Martin, a self-proclaimed tech whisperer with the social grace of a hermit crab, had fixated on the Apple Vision Pro—a device that promised to turn reality into something less tedious. “$3,499,” he muttered to his cat, Chairman Meow, who was busy ignoring him. “For that price, it’d better make me breakfast and laugh at my jokes.”The day to preorder arrived, and Martin was ready, armed with his iPhone, which he often accused of being more style than substance. “Let’s add another overpriced gadget to