How future proof are high end laptops right now?

Depends on what you mean by "future proof." Nothing is future proof. In a few years, less expensive machines will run games that those can't touch; it's just the nature of things. Would you please expound on what you want? Perhaps which one is likely to play new games adequately for more years?

That's a different question - thanks for clarifying it. The answer will depend on what games you want to play. There will be a range of games (and we can't really give you a list) that will play adequately on a desktop with a 1070 but be irritating on a mobile 1060. Just the nature of the thing. So it depends on what games and what is most important to you.

That is indeed an interesting question. Here's my humble opinion (laptops only):

High-end devices typically survive on higher profit margins, justified by early access to new technology (e.g. 4K displays, latest CPU generation and graphics series). Much like cars, prices plummet the moment you open the box. They do retain some value because they can leverage their 'past glory' when competing with mid-end devices. Even so, a 2-year-old, maxed-out MSI carries only a fraction of its original commercial value because in the course of those 2 years, most of the cutting-edge tech of the MSI will have trickled down to mid-end devices. This is good news for manufacturers of mid-end devices - except for one problem: Games.

As WyomingKnott indicated, compounding the tech-driven situation is the frenetic speed at which game developers expand the 'recommended settings' for next year's game. This usage-driven trend combines with the tech-driven pace to make it effectively irrelevant to engage in anything to do with quality, as in durability or longeivity; it just doesn't make commercial sense. This is good news for manufacturers of low-end devices, because it creates and perpetuates a market for cheaply made, non-customizable throw-away gadgets that are not designed to last more than 12 months.

And the consumer? Well, if people still think that this industry is consumer-driven, just take a look at the posts on this Forum.

If the 'future' can be defined in 2-year increments, I suppose high-end devices are future-proof. For mid-end devices, that 'future' is closer to 18 months, and 12 months for low-end devices.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.