1.5 pounds is what the 2010 iPad weighed, people managed to use it just fine.
As for visual appeal, who knows? PC gamer aesthetics seem to be oriented around dotting your CPU case with the most gauche RGB lights Amazon dropshippers have to offer. At least this is more toned down than say, a comparable Alienware product.
The weight is pretty excessive for something you hold out in front of your face with two hands. Yes an 11 year old iPad weighs the same, but people tend to rest the edge of the iPad on a lap, chest, table. At least with the Nintendo Switch, I find it uncomfortable to play while resting it against something else. The angle on my wrists ends up being painful after say 20 minutes.
Regarding the weight, it’s a different position when you’re holding it at arms length while playing. You don’t hold your iPad in the air while reading, you put it against your knees or something else!
I would put the Steam device on my knee when seated and playing on a train, possibly on top of a backpack that's also on my knee. I'd have to try it to be sure but I think it will work out fine.
Experience! Every portable gaming PC and piece of Valve hardware have flopped. This is a "We have tons of money and are still committed to hardware" release, not a success story.
This is news to me. What is an example of a portable gaming PC that has flopped? I'm honestly just not aware of any major company trying to make one.
As for Valve hardware, the only clear flop was Steam Machines -- which weren't Valve hardware at all.
I think it's odd to focus purely on the mass market success of Valve's actual hardware (Link, Controller, Index) since these can all be considered experiments by a company that can afford to fail, and since these have all been widely praised as the best-in-category. Clearly they know how to make great hardware; they just haven't done anything mass market yet. Who knows, maybe the disappointment with Nintendo will fuel sales for the Steam Deck.
1.5 pounds is what the 2010 iPad weighed, people managed to use it just fine.
As for visual appeal, who knows? PC gamer aesthetics seem to be oriented around dotting your CPU case with the most gauche RGB lights Amazon dropshippers have to offer. At least this is more toned down than say, a comparable Alienware product.