$200 today or $2000 on ebay a couple of decades from now

eBay may not allow DTKs to be auctioned since they were loaned not sold in the first place.

Doesn’t seem like a very good ROI....

I mean "let me upgrade you for only $499" is pretty standard Apple, why are people so surprised?

> why are people so surprised?

Because the DTK was handled completely differently by Apple during the PowerPC to Intel transition.

The article is unclear to me, they paid $500 for these right? Is Apple giving them back $200 or $700?

They didn't pay $500 to buy them. They paid $500 for a time-limited rental. You can argue that the price was too steep for a loan, or that Apple should be offering a more generous incentive to return the hardware. I wouldn't disagree. [2] But it's not like Apple was unclear about this.[0][1]

[0] https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/36365-67564-DTK-own...

[1] https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*V6If2OIL4W223oGLzT5OrQ.pn...

[2] To everyone who dealt with faulty hardware, I think Apple should be quietly offering refunds, not just a partial store credit. But to everyone else, they received the service promised by Apple in full and should be stoked at the $200 return incentive.

Developers paid $500 to use the DTK for a few months.

Is Apple giving them back $200 or $700?

$200

Apple is now saying 'you are contractually obligated to ship back this DTK and when we receive it you will receive $200 store credit to buy a new M1 Mac which expires on May 31 if unused.'

Apple isn't giving back anything. Participants get a $200 discount on a new M1 Mac purchase until May 31.

If the participant has already purchased an M1 Mac and doesn't need another one, then they get nothing.

And the store credit isn't given until after the DTK is returned.

ill buy one for 300 hmu