When I was still dependent on my parents, I was stuck with a pretty outdated PC, but was allowed to get a PSP and then a PS Vita (but also only 1 game ever). The reasoning was that a separate console could be taken away easily if my grades dropped, while an outdated computer couldn't do much besides schoolwork.
One of the ways I got into computing was making the most of this dumb situation by trying to run custom software (emulators, homebrew games, PDF viewers etc) on my console. So, something like this would've been handy.
Ultimately though, the devs probably made it because it was an interesting technical challenge .
I'd also point out that the latest versions of consoles are simply glorified x86 machines. When viewed in that light, you can evaluate if you want a PC with a pretty decent graphics card for the price point.
These are literally x86 AMD machines with AMD graphics cards.
The original XBox was the same way. It made a great media server which is the origin of the likes of plex and kodi.
Well they use to be, this last generation seemed break even in hardware cost around release. But with hardware supply issues now that may not be true at this moment still.
i use my steam deck on my tv all the time as a fairly weak steam machine. i also have a ps5 that i haven't bothered to turn on in at least a year. being able to convert my disused ps5 into a more powerful steam machine actually seems like a bit of an upgrade to my current setup.
Consoles aren't really a useful object. You can only play the heavily locked down titles the vendor approves for you, and nothing else. You have to pay a monthly subscription for the damn thing. And if you want to do anything at all than engage with the DRM lootbox subscription machine, no you don't.
With this you can use the console to do anything that a PC can do. Which is literally everything.
You could, for instance, play all of your old legally-backed-up games without paying for them yet again. You could run productivity software, or play literally any game that isn't blessed by Sony. It also doesn't try to extract money from you at every opportunity.
To be fair to them they didn't break the CDs from working. After a couple years of maintaining the official forums and website they just shut it all down. This is fair for a game, less so for folks running real work on the machines now with no official patches etc.
this is not true, you can only upgrade using a PUP not downgrade.
Super excited for this, havent been involved since the bd-jb exploit and finally i can use my ps5 the way i want to.