Powerful desktop at home + Tailscale + super light old Thinkpad with amazing battery life has been working really well for me whenever I need to be out and about. As long as remote development works for you I think this is the way.
Yes a MacBook Air as remote terminal back to the beefy PC at the mothership is ideal usually even for for GUI remote desktop unless internet is already unbearable and/or pay-per-GB.
It's not going to support WiFi promiscuous mode but maybe pick up a Pi Zero 2W or similar if that's a requirement.
