Apple no longer supports any 32 bit processor.
So if, like me, you have a 2011 machine with a 32bit processor, there are no more updates that isn't a problem: it still works as well as ever, there is no need to replace it.
Apple Music still keeps everything on the Cloud, with Catalina, iTunes was replaced with three separate apps for music, podcasts and shows or movies. Same on the phone.
What is the problem?
My 2012 Macbook Pro has got a 2.7GHz quad-core i7, 16GB RAM, a 500GB SSD and a 2880 x 1800 retina display. There is no reason at all why it can't run 10.16 Big Sur but apparently Apple have decided that I must buy a new machine if I want to stay in the supported ecosystem.
Catalina is the problem with the switch to Apple Music from iTunes it no longer supports cloud-based synching without a Music account. Plus there's the well-documented heat issue. The OS seems to be rigged to run older processors hot, mine is now rarely below 70C.
I could go back to 10.14 I suppose but that will drop out of support in a couple of years. There's a lot of pressure on Apple at the moment so we might see a change of heart, but I doubt it.
