But what applications will be ready tomorrow (today?) when Big Sur is released? Intel has several if not five plus years of viability left on the Mac platform. Apple has said the transition to Apple Silicon will be at least a few years. Buying a more fully specced Intel Mac is still not a bad idea if you need more connectivity. If you don’t, a $1300 laptop, or $1000 Mac mini may get over the hump for the next year or two. If I had to buy today, I’d still go Intel. I need more than two thunderbolt ports, and I need more than 2TBs of internal storage. i literally just finished an 8k red project in full resolution on my 16” MBP working from home. They are still very powerful and highly capable little machines.
It’s really not that tricky. Also, with Thunderbolt 4 coming, you’ll be able to have thunderbolt hubs, which will open up more connection possibilities on fewer ports. I’d wait on Apple Silicon unless planning to refresh within two years. In that time something else will be available that will have better specs and perhaps more options that will last a pro a little longer.