Apple skipped the regular iPhone 18 — so what are we actually supposed to buy?

Apple’s lineup is really unusual this year: no regular iPhone 18, a $1,999 Duo, and the 18 Pro Max competing with last year’s 17 Pro Max.
I use a 17 Pro Max, so I looked at the launch from the perspective of someone actually deciding whether to upgrade rather than doing another specs recap.
The part I found most interesting is that the most expensive iPhone isn’t necessarily Apple’s best camera phone, while the regular 18 appears to be pushed into 2027.
Curious what everyone else would choose — 18 Pro Max, Duo, keep your current phone, or wait?
https://youtu.be/QkvnqiYqpWI