Comparing a refurb Macbook to a budget Windows laptop doesn't really show that Apple devices are of "higher quality" - which was the argument OP was trying to make.

To be fair if we're talking about used you can get $1200 new windows laptops for $800 used too so not really a fair comparison.

That's true... I guess the argument that as a student you can get an M1 macbook air for 900 or that Mac minis start at 700 (non student) also wouldn't work (because minis aren't macbooks and not everyone is a student).