And you have a right to that opinion, as long as you remember that that is what it is. Obviously any computer ties you to its ecosystem, as you need software for it, parts for it. No different than any other system, just that in the windows/linux/PC world, becasue it is a much bigger market you don't see the locks because they are wider.
I am not someone who uses brand names either, but sadly I am not in the 'more often than not' catagory that you are. If you actually 'need' photoshop or ms office, that is what you need. Neither of them have an equivilent piece of software. Sure, you can do similar things with other software, but not the same thing. I hate office with a passion, but in my job I have to use it. There is nothing else that does exactly the same job (and I wish there was). I have tried all the office clones, open source or commercial. Again with photoshop, there is nothing to touch it if you need what it does although like you say, most people don't need what it does, they just pirated it as it was easier than getting something else.
I do to, I never buy something because of a trend, but to me apple isn't that. It is something that works without the hassle. If the nokia IT did what my iPod did, I would use it, but it doesn't. If a linux or windows PC did what my mac does, I would have it, but they don't so I don't. I don't see why I should compromise what I need because it is fasionable to call apple just a style thing. But unlike what seems to be really common here, if someone else doesn't want to use what I am using, I really don't find it a big problem.