"...it is not difficult to create a bootable external drive for M1 macs given the right combination of connecting media, drive media, and installer"
If I may slightly digress in view of your conclusion to share a favorite among math professors: so the professor had been lecturing non-stop for half an hour and the blackboard is completely covered with equations, symbols and notation. "And it is obvious…" the professor says while turning to look at the board. The professor stares at the board for a minute, two minutes, four minutes. "Yes, it's obvious."
[if it requires explanation, then just keep moving along
]