1) !!! OK, I will not pretend I am not surprised by this, because I truly am. Good for them. They do not conform to the "Mac users need to keep things simple" stereotype, if nothing else!

2) People that got the most recent Mac Pro are indeed professionals who will not switch architectures that easily. Those expensive machines' cost will have to be recouped first. PLUS pros will wait until the software side of things is in top-notch form before switching.

But I am of the opinion that not many people are now buying the Intel-based Mac Pro (well unless they absolutely have to). Not since Apple announced its intentions in June 2020. As I too think that we'll be seeing a Mac Pro at the end of 2022, these professionals e.g. with the "trashcan" Mac Pros will probably make do for another year and then move on to that new Mac Pro directly.

That's what I've gathered, at least, while speaking to pros here in Greece: they have ALL postponed buying a Mac Pro since last summer. I can easily see why. Putting down €15K for a Mac Pro only to find out that they could get 2x the processing power for the same or even less money in a year is a really unattractive proposition!

To be honest I think that professional Apple diehards will upgrade as soon as they possibly can - well, as soon as the software they are interested in is there too. One out of five sticking with Intel may be even optimistic. I just hope Apple does not leave them high and dry in 2023 in the macOS department.