> That systemd solves the problems that make it possible to react to events and makes laptop-usable distros possible?

It is one such solution. But there are others, which from an end-user perspective are much easier to deal with (e.g. runit, shepherd etc.).

So, for instance, my Void-powered laptop shuts down quickly and cleanly when I ask it to, and I don't have to wait 1:30 minutes (or more) on shutdown.