When shopping for laptop from an alternative why would they be wanting a clone of the thing they've already affirmed they're not interested it by the nature of their shopping for alternatives?
The target is people who would buy a MacBook but want to run Linux.
There are many people who turn down the MacBook, not because of build quality, or design, but because it does not support Linux.
I know the HN comment thread is people who don't see this as an ideology and who have drawers full of apple products and used to work there for years but see this as not a preference in the slightest ... I know who I'm talking to but I for some weird strange, neurodivergent reason, insist on reality.