Homepod

Why continue with Apple Homepod & Apple Family Music when Apple is late to this market, charges several hundred dollars more than google & Spotify which is a more interactive pod with the internet, music etc. This year Apple again put the Homepod on the back burner. Until Apple comes up with a very much better homepod before I spend five hundred dollars Canadian I’m upset & hope someone can explain what if anything I’m missing. Many homepod users have issues with IOS 12.