I'm with ya on this... my Mac Mini is 2012. I forget the processor speed, but it's an i7 and I did upgrade the RAM to 16 GB. Heck, I don't even have an SSD. Runs great for everything music (Logic, Pianoteq, all other VST's I've wanted with no problems). If I upgraded to an SSD I bet it would really fly.
The M1 is enticing and all that, but then I stop and think what is it really going to get me? One day I guess...