Long-term Apple user here too. My only gripe about the current range of MacBooks is I don’t find the keyboards good for long typing sessions (university assignments). I’ve never got on using a Windows keyboard plugged into a Mac even though I know you can swap the keys around. Instead, I’ve got the noisiest 3rd party clunk style Mac keyboard there is. I’m hoping when I finish my Master’s that I’ll find the Apple keyboards to be perfection again.
Back to the original question, I don’t think you can buy a bad laptop from Apple. I’ve no idea how much memory and processor power my Air or Pro have, and I’m from an IT background. If you’re in the UK, then the dark green high street department store seems the best place to buy (especially when a new model has just been released).