If you need a Linux laptop, I think it's wise to look at the appropriate ThinkPad models first. Of course, if you can get away with desktop-only or workstation your options are a lot more interesting.
Ask yourself whether working from the coffee shop or couch is really critical or even beneficial to your productivity and mental health.
My biggest realization with workstations is that they are more of a location than they are a computer formfactor. Habituating yourself to work in the work... place liberates you to not work everywhere else.
Back in the day, portable computers were luxuries for the important people in a business. Now I see the true luxury is NOT having a portable.
EDIT: Seconding both the Thinkpad recommendation as well as the suggestion to reconsider a workstation.