Interesting. I have the same machine w/ same specs. I find it sluggish. I think it depends on what you're doing.
Definitely grabbing 128 GB + for the next machine.
I've definitely tried optimizing with lower memory as you suggest but the margin is so small given normal usage of the computer at the same time that it really doesn't make a difference unfortunately.
So that's 2 emulators + a few terminals of pi/Claude, Firefox open, vscode and usually docker but nothing too heavy there.
I jest...but I'm disgusted by the price gouging going on. Glad my hardware is relatively recent and I had mostly maxed out already when I bought it a few years back. The same setup today would be closer to $7k with equivalent parts.