No one here in this user-to-user forum would know why Apple chose to do this. But no, the fact that a system is newer doesn't mean that it will be easier or cheaper. You can submit feedback to Apple using the link you already provided.
Idris,
I agree with you. But since my 99% of time on the Mac Mini since I bought it in April has been spent troubleshooting, trying to get back the simple things I've become used to on my previous Macs, now lost to me on Sonoma (and you haven't been privy to these issues because I've only posted the one issue here) so please allow to me to explain what I am experiencing so that you may have the bigger picture.
My external HDs keep dismounting every time I work on a file that is stored on one of them, I get an error message saying that my drives were not ejected properly. But I did not eject any HDs. Sonoma did that for me. After dismissing all the error notifications, I found that the drives were in fact, still mounted. Now that work is lost, and I have to start over. My workaround is to store the files on my desktop, work on them from there, and then transfer the finished files to the HDs. Wouldn't you assume that Sonoma can work with external HDs? Apparently, it does not.
One Apple forum user suggested I buy all new drives with an AC/DC adapter based hard drive. That was AFTER I had just purchased all new Western Digital SSD drives. That seems a tad extreme and expensive to me, don't you think? One would assume Sonoma would work with my existing HDs, both SSD and SATA, but Sonoma has taken that way from me.
I have spend many days on the phone with Apple support tier 2 technicians, only to find that they even don't know how to solve my issues. Apple seems to have created a system that even Apple can't help you with. It reminds me of the old joke, “Can God create a rock that’s too heavy for even God to lift?” Well, in Apple’s case, I would have to say apparently so.
I don't mind a learning curve. I've been using Macs since 1984, so I think I know a little about this. But the Somona learning curve has turned into the Myth of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is condemned to roll a rock up to the top of a mountain, only to have the rock roll back down to the bottom every time he reaches the top. The word frustration doesn't even begin to cover it. Perhaps torture by a thousand paper cuts would be a better analogy of what I am going through. As soon as one issue has been solved, 5 more show up to take its place.
Ever heard of a game called Whack-a-Mole?
Not being able to use external drives, and having to spend hours on the phone with Apple for each and every little problem that arises makes me wonder if I should have purchased the Mac Mini in the first place. I’ve turned from Mac user to full-time Mac troubleshooter. When do I get to actually enjoy and use my new Mac Mini?
Look at this way: Let's say you've just purchased the latest, greatest, and most powerful Tesla available, only to find that you must drive it only with 3 tires. You ASSUMED that you'd get a car that ran on 4 tires, only to find out that it doesn't work on 4 tires. Hey, why are you complaining? You’ve got the most powerful and fastest Tesla on the block, only to discover that you’ve you've just purchased the world's most expensive paperweight.
Learning curve aside, I made the assumption that the Mac Mini would allow me to have all the old things I'm used to on the Mac, only to find that I can only go 1 step forward, and three steps backwards. The word frustration doesn't even begin to cover it.
Yes, a newer system doesn't mean that it will be easier or cheaper. But at what point do you draw the line and say this is really too much?
Thanks for your feedback. Now that you have the bigger picture of what I am experiencing day-to-day, do you have any suggestions for me?
Thanks.
