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The fact that it would be extremely expensive to do so for what could amount to $0 worth of valuable information for months or years, if ever?

I don't think that is in any way related to the original comment.

Sure it is. There are plenty of players out there willing to invest in a long game of chance, if the potential payout is intelligence.

They sure bungled that one then!

Don't at least Windows and macOS encrypt the main drive by default these days, such that the SSD never sees anything interesting?

In the movies they usually sneak in and replace your genuine gadget with a modified one. more effective use of resources.

The NSA is said to have intercepted packages bound for surveillance targets, opened them, modified the electronics inside, then taped them back up and sent them on their way: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/photos-of-an-nsa...