If Apple had the appetite to let that M1 on the iPad run macOS I'd buy that in a second, just for the ability to develop.

The iPad is already so versatile, adding the ability to do my job or just to update a small side project every now and again (waiting at the airport etc).

I understand the hesitation in doing so, but its so frustrating. Given that the iPad now has a keyboard and mouse if you want it & a CPU that we know is fast, just unleash it!