That's the way that I am with my dad. But I'm lucky that my dad knows to get exactly what I have. When I build or buy a new computer, he has me get him the exact same one. New smartphone, the same. He likes getting new tech and he likes that he can call me and I can normally fix the problem or tell him how to fix the problem because I have exactly the same thing he does. It makes it sooooo much easier. With the MIL she doesn't have the same tech budget that my dad has so she gets our hand-me-downs. My old smartphone she gets. Old computer is the same. Makes it really easy to fix problems.
My God, you almost sound believable. Did you graduate from Trump University? You are truly a sly and crafty old dog.