You ask a lot of really great questions.
I was using Qobuz for a couple of years. My wife really wanted to use Apple Music, and like you, I didn’t feel like paying for an extra subscription. I use the streaming service primarily to sample new recordings, and then if I really like something I buy the CD or SACD, and then either play the disc or burn it to my NAS and play it from the streamer.
I play Apple Music on my Cambridge Audio CXN 60 streamer. If I use an Android device I use Chromecast. If I am using my iPad then it’s AirPlay. Chromecast sounds better. The CXN60 comes with a DAC,but I only use it as a streamer, running it into my Bryston DAC3. Yes, I have paid for DAC that I am not using, although the included DAC isn’t bad and I suppose will be a backup DAC for my entire system if something happens to the Bryston. It should be possible to get streamers without DAC that offer Chromecast and AirPlay.
Like you, for years I streamed from a MacBook, reasoning that it shouldn’t sound different than a dedicated streamer. As others have noted here, even budget equipment such as Bluesound or my CA ($1100) easily best the sound of computer audio. For me it as the lack of grain andquieter backgrounds, and also the joys of not hearing my music mixed in with extraneous computer sounds. I also prefer an audio component to look like an audio component and not a PC