I'm awaiting the M2 /M1X (whatever it'll be called) and am still rocking the 2018 Mac Mini. The fact that there is no screen to get keyboard marks in, no battery to explode, no white cable to get frayed are just some of the reasons why the Mac Mini is a great choice. Even when you outgrow it, it can serve as a NAS, Plex server, or anything else you'd like it to be. With almost no moving parts, the thing will last forever.