Just my general observations, take them as you will.
You can just as easy buy a Mac and install Windows.
Yes, but no-one does. Interesting, you said "buy a Mac" but you clearly mean "buy Mac hardware and Mac software (thus paying for an operating system already) and then install windows at your own behest".
Secondly, Apple choose to market it the way they do because it works for them. They make billions in revenue which is great for their shareholders. The same for any business tbh.
I do not give a flying damn about Apple's shareholders. Apple market it that way because Apple are a bunch of corporate psycho's, the same as in every mega-corporation that attempts to tie you in with everything. And you BUY INTO that.
Apple can't compete with Dell and other manufacturers because Mac's are more expensive.
Tough business luck. Make them cheaper. If they don't have the expertise to do that, business logic says they die in the market place.
The average consumer is tempted by adverts on the TV showing laptops for £350 or towers for even less. Apple products are aimed higher than that.
Apple don't *aim* higher than that, they hit exactly where they want. Apple could get a Mac into every home, school and university if they wanted to - just by lowering the prices and opening their platform. But they won't, because they are trying to scrape every penny out of the poor suckers who are willing to pay for their garbage. Suckers like you.
And you say I'm ignorant of the computer world? Plenty of people do this. The reason more don't is because it's illegal and discussion of it is banned on many forums (including this one) and secondly because a lot of benefit is gained from the hardware working together with the software. Thirdly, where would you get it. Torrent only.
Guess what, its illegal to download and install Windows. I don't do it - I use Ubuntu - but every tom dick or harry knows someone who has a copy "lying around" that they can borrow.
If installation is the one thing thats not discussed because it is illegal, then you are looking on the wrong websites. But then Macs don't exactly encourage you to do your own research.
Again Apple isn't aiming for render farm use or big business use. Because they're more expensive. Why would a law firm spend more on Mac's when all they're using is word processing, email, and accounting? Why would a web hosting company pay a premium?
Why would they pay extra for better design? Or DVD playback? Or iMovie? Or Front Row? These are meaningless to businesses.
In fact, they are meaningless to most people. My computer is a box that sits under my desk and does stuff for me. I don't care (even though I got it from OCUK it happens to have a reasonable case) whether it is sexy. Its fast, it runs linux at lightening speed, it plays DVDs seamlessly (something that most PCs have been able to do for about 10 years). IMovie, as far as I can tell, is for small time video editors to slap together some stuff without getting too technical, which is the approach of most software on the Mac. Front Row - I have no idea what that is, but it doesn't sound like a leading industrial package (though I could be mistakened and missed that nugget of pure joy).
Apple has to concentrate on where it can compete. Niche markets are where it does best.
Funny, I don't remember seeing "Hi, I'm a PC, and I'm a Mac for use in Niche Markets only" in their advertising campaign.
Why do almost all businesses have basic cloth computer chairs rather than Hermon Miller Aeron's? It's obvious mate.
There may be a large price difference between chairs at the top and bottom of the ladder, but there is no way a similar scale of political and economic complexity in that industry as is in software, so don't compare the two.
I think a lot of the public are ignorant of Mac's. Why would a parent risk £1k buying an iMac for their children when a Windows box (that everyone will know how to work from school/work) costs £700?
Whoa whoa whoa... Mac PRIDE themselves on ease of use, so don't try and sell me that. You are trying to mix two things there, cost and usability.
Apple have only recently started marketing to general consumers.
Are you freaking KIDDING me? Apples have been marketing to general consumers since I have KNOWN about them. My old school had a Mac rotting away in one of their cupboards unused (the school went with the Archimedes instead). I can't see any kids using those old Macs as their first PC and learning to program tiny apps. On the archimedes I learnt to program using sprites, fonts amongst other things. But I digress, Macs are for burning DVDs and making amateur Bird Videos.
There are less than 10 Apple Stores in the whole country and only 1 or 2 models in purple shirt land. And you wonder why no-one buys them? Most people probably don't know what they are.
Also, because the Apple stores wouldn't stay in business. Apple aren't exactly the most diverse companies. Even Sony stores do better than Apple stores.
Most people don't know what they are because they learnt at school (and quite rightly) that computers are computers. There aren't "magic computers" that do everything for you. That doesn't stop Mac trying to self itself as just that solution.
What I personally have found is that when people see them in action they generally want one. Since buying my iBook a few years ago, my friend at Uni bought a Mac Mini, my brother bought a MacBook and my dad is adamant that his next computer will be a Mac. Without me none of them would have considered them let alone bought one.
One of my bosses in one of my jobs is getting involved with a sad little cult. He's totally sold up on the idea, he will quite willingly hand thousands of pounds to them. Of course, he is going to everyone he knows trying to convince them how wonderful it is.
Just because he has convinced a few of them, doesn't mean that it actually has value. I could convince you that black is white - it doesn't actually mean black IS white, just that I have sold you the idea well enough for you to believe it.
When people see you using a nice little computer, they want one? Well theres a surprise. But what is the difference between that and using a PC? I guess you had some pretty backgrounds, flashy windows fading effects etc. All possible on PCs (you really should try Compiz, it blows Aero and Aqua away).
Incidentally, it's interesting to see that on average Mac users are more intelligent and richer than Windows users. That probably explains Apple's marketing structure.
Ironically, thats because PC's include the great general public, whereas the only people who use Macs are arty types that have some kind of media or IT background (though not proper development work). Ironically though, by buying into Macs, you've proven yourself to be not quite so smart as the truly smart people who chop and change as necessary and recognise a buy-in con when they see it. And not as rich as those people because they haven't just wasted hundreds of pounds extra on something that will still be obsolete in the same time that a PC bought at the same time is.
I will concede this. Mac hardware can be attractive - from a design POV. I have considered getting a Mac laptop purely because it is dinky - but I would wipe it and put ubuntu on it.
This entire "you must use the software with the hardware" smacks of Cult talk.
) I prefer OS X and Apple products over Windows. I have to use XP and Vista in my work environment and I don't like it. I find OS X does what I need and the 24" iMac next to me at work that the web designer uses has nevr crashed even whilst running almost all of the Final Cut Studio apps at the same time. I have had to re-install my PC numerous times during my work life. 
If you can form an argument without resulting to insults then you all must be 12 year olds.
