The Steam Machine is "just" a normal Linux PC, with good integration.
The point is the target demographics. And, just like the Steam Deck, this is not something for power users. Most people on here know how to build a PC and install Linux with KDE on it, which is the same experience you would get with a Steam Machine.
Valve is selling this to an audience of gamers, specifically those who want an easy gaming experience on low end hardware. This is the same demographic which Sony and Microsoft are selling to.
Their audience is Steam users primarily. There are millions of them and all they need to do is market it on Steam. And as Valve had said (and shown with their hardware survey), the vast majority of users have shitty PC's. People keep mentioning in these comments "oh who is this for? I just built a gaming PC with an RX 9070". Good for you. Then you don't need it. However, there are millions of Steam users who do not have a 9070.
Which means that you can "target" all that you want, if you don't have the dozens of millions of USD of advertising budget that your competitors have, you don't really stand a chance against the incumbents.
The point is the target demographics. And, just like the Steam Deck, this is not something for power users. Most people on here know how to build a PC and install Linux with KDE on it, which is the same experience you would get with a Steam Machine.
Valve is selling this to an audience of gamers, specifically those who want an easy gaming experience on low end hardware. This is the same demographic which Sony and Microsoft are selling to.