If you only can buy this or a M2 MBP, which one would you get?
I'm not sure they appeal to the same group of users. macOS is IMNHO much worse than GNU/Linux with a proper window manager, much less comfortable to use with multiple desktops, and forces the use of a mouse/trackpad way too much.[1]
The m2 can run Linux - but external display support is probably a long way off.
So for the user wanting to run Linux - m2 isn't really viable - unless you actually work on it with just the built-in screen - for me that doesn't work ergonomically.
I have the m2 - it's not terrible - I suspect I'd prefer one of these.
[1] Rectangle and AutoRaise helps a lot, making the UX livable: