The real key for Apple is they already had a huge customer for their new chip - the iPhones and iPads have been using it for years.
This means they do not have to be dependent on Mac sales to support M1 development - they can amortize it over the largest phone manufacturer in the world.
And every time they do a successful architecture switch they make it easier to do it again in the future. If the IntAMD386 becomes the best chip of 2030 they can just start using it.
This means they do not have to be dependent on Mac sales to support M1 development - they can amortize it over the largest phone manufacturer in the world.
And every time they do a successful architecture switch they make it easier to do it again in the future. If the IntAMD386 becomes the best chip of 2030 they can just start using it.