My first rule is that if I'm happy with a piece of equipment, it does what I need and want, I don't spend money replacing it just because there's new stuff I might want, or it might fail. Like you, I keep everything essential on external hard drives. I've lately moved to SSD external hard drives because the old fashioned HDD's are vulnerable if they get dropped and the new SSD's have come down quite a bit in price. If my current computer goes down that will be a nuisance for a week or two, but it won't be serious because all the data's on the external drives. So while I have back up cameras, flashes, etc, I don't have a back up computer and won't be replacing it until it fails or my needs have outstripped its abilities. Your current computer has a dedicated GPU, the Nvidia Geforce. That makes it faster than models that have an imbedded GPU. Photo and video editing are very demanding of the GPU so when buying a laptop, that is one of my top requirements. It must have a dedicated GPU.

Entirely possible. Consider that the #1 selling vehicle is the Ford F150 pickup but Ford is still far smaller than Toyota. Also consider all those people still using older Nikon bodies. For years Nikon was the technology leader and made super tough gear that feels good in your hands all day long. Given the lens investment it's not surprising that so many pros are still using Nikon. Really until the R series it was hard to understand why so many people bought Canon. The 5DM1V was the first Canon camera that could compete and the Nikon D850 is still the best DSLR anyone ever made. But the Canon R series surprised the world and Canon leaped past Nikon for the first time in memory. Meanwhile, starting humbly with their NEX mirrorless, Sony kept innovating and taking risks. I thought in 2013 when I first handled an NEX that Sony would eventually become the leader. Getting pros with deep lens commitments to switch to Sony en mass from Canon and Nikon will take time but all those Canon 5DMIVs and Nikon D750s are getting older, as are their owners. Nikon is making money again selling all the cameras they can manufacture but they aren't what they once were and unless they can proliferate Z9 capabilities downline, people who aren't willing to spend $5K on a camera are going to buy Sony or Canon. The Z6II is great if you're in the Nikon system but if you're coming in new today you're probably going for the better specs in the Sony or Canon lines. Oh, and BTW, this is painful to write as a long time Nikon shooter :(

Everyone has a good camera. For most people photos taken by an unskilled person with a great camera is fantastic. They were there at a great moment and got the expressions of the people there and good times will be remembered. But a few people want more and they will pay what it takes to get better photos. The skill of the photographer matters to them. Actually what matters is the result but it's the same. As long as I have been in any business it's always been the same. Sir Francis Drake said there will always be someone willing to make something a little worse and charge less for it. The amateur with an entry level camera and no real training or business knowledge will charge too little. For the budget minded bride or portrait customer the results may be good enough to pay for it, but it is those photographers that are the true endangered species. Cell phones are far greater competition for them then for a well trained and equipped professional, and they aren't able to charge enough to make it work as a business. In my area there are photographers that will charge $700 or $800 for a wedding. They work 10 to 12 hours taking photos and then another 10 to 20 hours processing so at best they are making $50 an hour. They have to bring their own tools and some of those tools are expensive. At those rates they can't afford insurance and can't afford to buy a $2,500 camera. They come and go.

Every year I wonder how many weddings I will shoot next year and each year I manage to shoot as many as I want and maybe more. Another post talked about strong referrals and marketing. Agreed! If you produce fantastic photos you will get referrals. Referrals and past clients wanting to refresh their photos are my biggest source of business and 2022 has been one of my best years.

Maybe people will stop paying me because of cell phones but I suspect that factor is already here. Look, give my guitar to Pete Townsend and he'll do things with it I can only imagine. Give me his guitar and you'll wish I was Townsend. Cell phones are fantastic and they will only get better but point and shoot cameras on auto aren't going to kill photography. I strongly suggest if you think you really are losing business to them, up your game.