They work on changes, ideas, and improvements all the time, and they have 1000s of similar patents for everything, doesn't mean the work that lead to that patent was a response to the specific product issue -- could be just a patent about avoiding dust in keyboards in general (a problem that harks back to the ages).

>That requires costly engineering time and organizational direction that is not used on a whim.

Again, you'd be surprised. It just requires the idea, and someone to write it in patent-ease. They have patents for all sorts of ideas and some make it into products while others never see the light of day. They literally use those "on a whim". For Apple filling a patent is peanut money.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/24/apple-exploring-s...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/03/23/apple-pate...

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-weight-lifting-fitness-...

https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/10/16452402/apple-patent-wa...

https://gizmodo.com/5058161/apple-patent-adds-quicklook-capa...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/09/23/apple-cu...

https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-patents-lcd-screen-tha...