Apple is fundamentally a different kind of company than almost all other software or hardware companies. The prospect of J. Average Computer Company competing against J. Other Average Computer Company is straightforward, all that it takes to win against them is to keep doing what you're doing, only better, or more. The prospect of competing against Apple might be a bit more daunting, because potential it requires completely remaking your entire company to be more Apple-like, which is something most companies are utterly incapable of doing.
This is despite the fact that Apple isn't even especially dominant in any area, not to the same degree that Microsoft, Google, or Amazon are dominant.
I don't think it's necessary to be exactly like Apple to compete successfully against them. However, there are so few companies in the software industry that manage to demonstrate Apple's rare combination of talents that there really is no other model for how to do it.
Also, the perception of Apple as being exceptional and unique is greatly aided by the generally dysfunctional state of the entire industry in general.
This is despite the fact that Apple isn't even especially dominant in any area, not to the same degree that Microsoft, Google, or Amazon are dominant.