Your idea of a rugged laptop must be one that never leaves the desk

He didn’t say it was rugged, he said “business”.

That said, MacBooks are not milspec, nor do they claim to be. Dell/HP/Lenovo make devices that support thermal variance and shock (Lenovo T series for example), and several companies make ruggedized devices for outdoor use.

The differences aren’t what you think. Police use cases primarily need shock resistance, wide environment operating range, screens readable in sunlight, and the ability to turn off all lights.

If you don’t need that, that isn’t always a good thing. For example, you can operate a Samsung rugged phone from 0-120 F —- much wider range than an iPhone. But… that battery will be toast if it runs hot or cold a lot.