Kali isn't meant to be a desktop OS. Use it only in VM or in a spare rig. It is meant to be a toolbox. So dual boot it with your daily driver OS or use in a VM.
Then you never re-format again, but just drag and drop any .iso-file you want to try. You can try any Linux distro in live mode without installing anything into your computer before you found your favorite distro.
Lot's of things in computing should be simplified. Especially bios firmware / boot process. It has become overly complicated mess offering zero value for anybody. In 10 years the bios chip size has increased from 8 mbit to 256 mbit and no features added. Only TPM 2.0 has been added, but it is another chip than bios.
I didn't know that logging question is related to SystemD, so thanks for telling it! As an non-top class desktop user the same thing frustrates especially because the solution is often simpler and not found from those logs.
I enjoy the seamless experience it offers. I doubt Linux in general could be noticeable faster with better optimized SystemD or with perfect init for speed.
Thinkpad T480 or HP Dev One for the cheapest you can find. If they're not powerful enough, use them until System76 releases their Virgo. It will have an open source (Coreboot) bios, trackpoint and hot-swappable mechanical keyboard.
They're asking for betatesters in the blog post. Having that beta version available in the AUR would explode the amount of beta testers.
AUR contains tons of Linux Mobile stuff which I hated a lot in the beginning, but then I thought that if it helps devs to distribute those mobile apps then I'm fine with it.
Kali isn't meant to be a desktop OS. Use it only in VM or in a spare rig. It is meant to be a toolbox. So dual boot it with your daily driver OS or use in a VM.
Your Mac can take Linux just well: https://djharper.dev/post/2020/06/07/running-linux-on-my-macbook/
For your 300 bucks budget look nothing else than Thinkpad T480 or HP Dev One. T480 will need replacement batteries if not replaced yet.