You define variables and code that changes the variables over time. TLA+ lets you observe variable states and assert constraints. The amount of concurrency is up to you, it works fine with a single process.
Non-determinism might be a better thing to anchor the value to. For example in a deterministic "normal" programming environment, an if/then/else statement will execute only one out of two possible code paths. You have to run the code with a complementary condition to observe the other code path.
In a non-deterministic environment like TLA+ both possible code paths are executed. You can observe state transitions in both possibilities.
In a deterministic context the combinatorics of code paths can get out of hand quickly. Non-deterministically you have one set of assertions for all code paths, or patterns of paths.
This is all hidden tech, you and OP have very valid points, but who is the intended audience of this message?
In the Jobs' days they'd promote the practical value of a product. For example they might say how the new iPod can have 50k songs, not how big the storage is, let alone the storage type. They'd mention a smaller form factor or improved battery life, not about HDD to SSD.
So when they talk about SoCs, cores, GPUs, intel or anything else hidden, are they signaling to customers? Maybe its signaling to investors that apple is innovating and that ought translate to profits; maybe the inner geek in all of us?
The dirty trick with hidden tech's performance figures is that they don't directly translate to customer value. As you mentioned, you're dissuaded from buying because the new stuff will be so much better. Maybe it will but the old apple would tell you that the new macs can process video in final cut 10x faster, or you don't have to buy a separate gaming rig, i.e. you can do more stuff better.
The good part about focusing on what the products can do is that you can't fake it. You can't fake it to [geeks] like me, [non-geeks like] my mom, my kids, investors, etc.