Maybe for Switch, but for Playstation and Xbox? lol?
It hasn't been that way since the days of the PS2. You have to set up an account, constantly deal with system and game updates.
There is no such thing as "plug and play" anymore.
It really isn't that hard if you know how to watch a video and use google. Also pcpartpicker.com is a thing.
But that's why I say it's for retards and niggercattle. You're right, I can't expect them to be able to read, watch videos and insert things into labeled sockets.
Consoles are just very simple of use, doesn't require much tech knowledge to pick up parts (since the console is already ready to use after purchase) and setup on a first boot. There is little to no troubleshooting either, and eventual updates are pretty much handed to the user which makes the whole thing mainly hassle-free. The average person won't go through a lot of learning process in PC building (they may likely have bigger fishes to fry too, in their own fields of expertise) when something simpler is available to do the exact same task out-of-the-box, as in playing the games personally wanted.
The Steam Deck does circumvent a lot of problems that was surrounding PC gaming as something pretty hard to approach for the less initiated, in addition to be rather cheap with the base model. I went ahead with the 512GB/anti-mat screen unit though, because I'm not personally confident to change internal parts in portable devices. Yeah there are Internet guides for replacing the default SSD, which can save up a bit of money too, but sometimes I can fit the description of the people you complain about when it comes to unfamiliar things too.
And if I were to be honest, desktop PCs for the dedicated purpose of gaming aren't my thing anymore. I'm fairly satisfied with both the Switch and Steam Deck, and I'm certain their successors will continue to meet my vidya tastes, while it will save me the trouble to redo researches on separate computer parts and re-building something. It's also hard to live without the benefits (2-devices-in-one) that the hybrid format offers now, considering the tech wasn't exactly there (and as seamless) until recently.
Basically, consoles will continue to be a popular thing as long as they remain simple of use.
It's just harder to justify a PS5 when vidya devs continue to drag their heels on PS4 game development even into 2024. Or when the Switch has already a wide and strong library, especially for anything japanese & indie (which decreased the reasons to own a PS console in Japan), in spite of the lower specs.
The shitty economy hitting everywhere, and the console being hard-to-get for the first two years, certainly didn't help Sony's case either.
