Although this is pure unproven (and maybe unprovable) speculation, I think that people buying such products have already decided to do so at some deep emotional level, and any half-decent review just provides the necessary rationalization for an otherwise excessive purchase.
Neither are terrible inconveniences but it’s a minor life improvement to not deal with those things. Is that worth $550? Not sure. But I’m glad I spent the money.
I think this is a generic Bluetooth audio chipset problem - I know it happens both with my Taotronics dongle and my PLT headphones. Bloody annoying when I'm listening to something on the phone, I've forgotten the Macbook is also connected, and bash beeps, killing the music.
I’m partially deaf in one ear so the whole audiophile angle isn’t for me but the life convenience of apple ecosystem is worth it, in my opinion.
These days there are many other aspects to using headphones, ie as you mention how things work over bluetooth. Or comfort (which alone would kill these for me, even if they would be properly great in everything else). Or various signalling with purchases.
Anyway as long as everybody is happy with what they have all is good.
Probably a niche case but Apple seems to cater to the 'hearing problems' niche, unlike the other manufacturers.