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Laptops. This is using Microsoft Endpoint manager/Intune when they talk about “compliance”.

IT admins can set a policy like "must have 6 number PIN for login", if it does not then it is out of compliance.

This can mean nothing at all but if the company wants to act on it, it can.

and it sounds like in this case, anything that was out of compliance (in any regard) was acted on by wiping the device and deregistering it on the deadline day -- read this as 1700 laptops or desktops getting wiped in one day.

OP mentioned Microsoft Intune, which is used to manage phones (System Center is used for laptops).

I've since left my gig with MS systems, but I seem to recall seeing some sort of InTune client on my laptop. Is my memory failing me or is the client just weirdly named?

intune is the cloud replacement for Configuration Manager. It's been renamed a bunch of times over the years. I'm pretty sure they call it Endpoint Manager right now.

Probably laptops.