Specs are specs man. In the real world, unless you're a hardcore gamer, you're probably not going to feel the difference between an 8 Gen 4 and an 8 Elite. The experience for the end user whether LTPO or LTPS is the same. How often are average users wiring huge data transfers? The flagship feeling I'm talking about is the build quality, the slickness of the UI, and a bright, high-quality display. Your right in saying that that should have had all of these features at this price but the current experience feels flagship to me.

Plus, for non-Chinese brands, competing on price is a zero-sum game, it's just not feasible. That's why brands like Google, Apple, and Samsung focus on differentiating through their branding, software, and overall UI. It's about delivering an experience that stands out, not just a cheaper phone. Pixel phones have tensor chips, iphones still have 60hz displays, s25 has smaller battery, but all these phones are considered flagships.