I think right now apples current lineup hits every level of customer from the bottom to the top. The new iMac runs the gambit from non 4k 21 inch 7 gen cpu with intel graphics, all the way up to a 9th Gen I9 with Vega 48 Graphics. I can not say for sure but I would guess performance from the I9 is similar to that of the base 8 core xeon that is in the iMac Pro. Placing the top of the line iMac right below the iMac Pro. I get it you feel cheated that they produced this crazy powerful system that only big budgets pros can afford, and it is the only Mac that is an upgradeable tower. But it is not though they left a huge gaping hole between iMac --> iMac Pro.... Unless you just have to have a tower no matter what. Since apple users are 10% of the computer populations I would guess of that only .5% just have to have a tower no matter. It is kind of like Revit for Mac there just is not enough people to justify its existence. I am guessing the cost of the case is what is causing the high price and pushing the base system out of reach for the average pro user.