For those eager/willing to do the looking and digging around, there are probably some good dess as is to be had. And with a starting price of $699, I think it’s worth it to try.
I, personally, wouldn’t jump through any real hoops for a $399 SE, but you’re getting into some serious money on these flagship models (especially if you go the Pro route).
Definitely worth looking into to get the best deal/savings, when some of these models are more expensive than an actual Mac.