Mac’s constant changes frustrate longtime users

The latest macOS update has unleashed a cascade of frustrating bugs and performance issues for premium Apple users. This forum post highlights how even high-end Mac users paying premium prices are experiencing fundamental system problems after updating to macOS 15.4.1, raising questions about quality control and the value proposition of Apple’s ecosystem compared to Windows alternatives.

The big picture: A macOS 15.4.1 update has triggered multiple critical issues including significant unexplained storage loss, persistent AI file downloads despite blocking attempts, and CPU-intensive background processes.

Key details: The update arrived after the user was already experiencing a network share timeout bug that forced a system restart.

• After updating, approximately 2GB of AI AssetsV2 files cannot be deleted, despite the user’s attempts to block their download using Little Snitch.
• More concerning, over 100GB of storage space has mysteriously vanished from the startup drive with no obvious explanation.
• The user confirmed Time Machine snapshots are not the culprit, and initial diagnostics using the ncdu command failed to identify the cause.

What’s making it worse: The location service (Apple’s location management daemon) is consuming excessive CPU resources without apparent reason, further degrading system performance.

Why this matters: The frustrations highlight the growing tension between Apple’s premium pricing ($2000+ for hardware) and deteriorating software quality, leading users to question whether macOS still offers a superior experience compared to Windows.

Reading between the lines: Apple’s increased focus on AI features may be creating unintended consequences for users who prefer more control over their systems, with forced downloads and unexplained behavior becoming more common.