Mac OS updates are free
Maybe this meme is from the times they weren’t?
There wasn’t a time, at least since the invention of memes.
MacOS updates became free in 2012, the word “meme” is from 1972.
The word meme originated with Richard Dawkins’ 1976 book The Selfish Gene.
Interesting. Wikipedia “meme” article says it originated from the book in 1976 while “internet meme” says it’s from 1972.
Meme - Wikipedia

Well spotted. The latter entry has no references so I corrected it. Now both say 1976. The world is now 0.00000000000000000000000000000000001% better informed.
Apple fined for slowing down old iPhones

Apple agrees to pay a £21m fine in France for not making it clear that it slowed down old iPhones.

Until you need to buy a new mac cause your is not being updated anymore?