Even if it were true though, look at Amazon Workspaces prices. 4 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, 10GB of user storage and 80GB of root volume storage, $876/yr.

I think you can get a 4-core laptop with 16GB of RAM for $876 + $195 for the client, and afford to lose it at these prices; unless somehow your turnover rate is obscene; or you are an industry with extremely high security needs.