"I don't consider a bigger M2 SSD cheap"
Use a cheaper technology.
As a professional you should be aware that speed/cost (or speed/capacity which amounts to the same thing for a given level of budget) ratio comes in a series of tiers. SSD introduced another tier, the others, by and large*, still remain.
* A few have disappeared but but the HDD isn't one of them.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
