The problem is that Android tablets in the US have little competition, allowing for very high prices. The Samsung Tab S9 series are more expensive than the iPad pros.
Also, basically all non-budget Android tablets outside of Samsung has copied Apple's anti-consumer decisions to remove the headphone jack and MicroSD slot from their tablets. There's not much reason to buy an Android tablet as Apple literally gives you superior performance per dollar.
Also in my case, my current iPad is the only way I can use iMessage, which is how almost all of my friends communicate. And, the iPad really does have the superior stylus experience with the Apple Pencil (I have one, and it works great).
One of the biggest weaknesses of the iPad is no true Firefox, which means that your best way to browse the web is through adblock Plus, or Brave browser. They block most ads, but don't provide the blanket security and powerful features of uBlock origin.
Fixing this one thing hugely swings the pendulum from "lean Android" to "likely Apple" for me. It turns the 6/10 product into a 7/10. And allowing sideloading would turn the decision into a no-brainer, as the iPad would suddenly turn into a 9/10.