I am very aware of the technical issues with the transition from PowerPC to the Intel platform. It was a transition that had to happen. Just like the transition I went through when migrating from OS 9 to OSX. My issue is that I will have to PAY MONEY to UPGRADE most of my 3rd party professional music production apps. (And some of my video production app, as well.) I am an artist. I live at 50% under the poverty level. I ran an iPhone 4 into the ground for almost 6 years! Yes, I set myself up with a Mac mini Server i7 in 2011 and I intend to run that into the ground, too. Golly, Apple doesn't even have a decent replacement for that machine. Yes, I am one of those that feel Apple is now just a now consumer company and has strategically left it's original loyal "pro" users behind.
It is a "huge challenge" to fork out real money for software that I already own, just so I can sync a (long overdue) new iPhone. I lu$t after Apple hardware. I loyally support all the tech companies that I have invested in, and I lu$t after their latest iterations, too. (Though I am even more disappointed in Avid than I am Apple, these days.) However, it is hard to make it as an artist and a tech in the world of music creation and audio/video production.
Yes, there is no "technical barrier preventing" preventing me from upgrading to a newer operating system on my Mac. The barrier for me is money. I don't have it. I am in the middle of a paying gig, and if I upgrade my OS, I will cripple my Pro Tools rig and I won't get paid the pittance I have scratched out. Don't get me wrong, I want to run the latest-and-greatest. I just can't. Apple has the money and resources to overcome the "challenge to support 5+ versions of an OS" and there is most likely no "technical barrier preventing" them from doing so. All I am saying is; Apple hardware lasts… Why can't the software and support be a lasting investment as well?