Since this was my iPad replacement, decided I didn't need a MBP. Now if that was going to be my primary computer, probably would have gone Pro because it is a lot more capable, but I just didn't need it.

My PC is my primary computer, and it has two things I like better than the MBP (or MBA): (1) dual IPS monitors, and (2) a mechanical keyboard. The Mac display has better resolution than my older IPS monitors, but I have 5-6X the display area. The Mac's "butterfly" keypad doesn't hold a candle to my mechanical keyboard's Cherry MX Brown switches...and future versions probably never will. If you're going for lighter weight and thinner form factors, you aren't going to go with mechanical switches.

Now you can connect both (external monitors and keyboard) to any laptop...

If you're sending your daughter off to school, I always recommend three things: (a large external monitor, a full size keyboard (with mechanical switches), and a external SSD to back up any school work. But if you buy sufficient cloud storage, you can eliminate the external SSD. (Pay the $0.99/month for 50G from Apple).