Apple could do this by allowing you to run macOS on an iPad. Magic Keyboard is detachable and doubles as a cover/case. Without it, it's a tablet. With it, it's a laptop with reasonable compromises. SoCs in some iPads are the same as in some MacBooks. It's just software that's letting it down.

Yeah. It’s appealing in theory. On windows devices I made that choice a few times. I wouldn’t anymore.

If nothing else, the more complex hinges create significantly higher failure risk.