This isn't the 80s any 90s anymore, "technology influencers" have no impact on Apple's business. This is a common trope I see usually when "technology influencers" are mad about some product decision Apple makes. Apple gets more word of mouth from other laymen using iPhones than any "professional" using a Mac Pro.
A recent example of this is Macbook Pro sales rising despite the outcry in nerd circles. Another example was when FCP X dropped and there were countless hot takes about Apple dropping their professional customers and all of them switching to Adobe and Avid.
I don’t think influencers have much say in a positive direction. I think they do in a negative way but it can take years for things to change. The negative outcry against Microsoft started in the mid-90s but didn’t hit them in terms of mind share or numbers till ten years later.
The "HN crowd" has not downvoted that comment, it has upvoted it. Meanwhile you've left an irrelevant comment that explicitly broke the site guidelines. Would you please read them and not do that again?
A recent example of this is Macbook Pro sales rising despite the outcry in nerd circles. Another example was when FCP X dropped and there were countless hot takes about Apple dropping their professional customers and all of them switching to Adobe and Avid.