I game casually and did not buy a switch, simply because I do not want to plonk $300 on a single-use device that does a marginal job at gaming (mediocre graphics, expensive games).
Steam Deck is a slightly more expensive gaming device, but it does so much more. Previous attempts at these palm sized gaming PC failed because they were half assed, software and hardware wise. Steam deck isn’t.
I never saw the switch as a device for games in general. It is mostly the vessel for the next iteration of Nintendo-exclusive games. Those games don’t need super fancy hardware because the point of the games isn’t to show you the latest graphics.
The switch isn’t “just a handheld games console like any other.” It is “this thing you must buy to play the latest mario/Zelda/animal crossing game.” Obviously if you aren’t interested in those games there isn’t so much of a point.
Steam Deck is a slightly more expensive gaming device, but it does so much more. Previous attempts at these palm sized gaming PC failed because they were half assed, software and hardware wise. Steam deck isn’t.