I think this is only notable because it’s apple. There are many options on the market for gps trackers that have live updates. Not as cheap as an AirTag but cheap enough when stealing expensive vehicles.
You get a non apple one that takes a sim card for real time tracking for as little as $5.
But it's still good for raising awareness of the issue. These devices whether Apple-branded or otherwise should not be unregulated and generally available to be affixed to an unsuspecting target.