I sort of agree and sort of disagree.

People absolutely did move their consoles around then. When I'd stay at my friend's or a family member's house, I'd often take my Dreamcast or GameCube, because I knew they didn't have one.

They'd do the same when they came over to my house, because I never had a PS1/PS2.

Where the handle doesn't make sense is what you said with the cables and controllers. I'd always put the console in the same place I put my controller(s) and cables - a bag that has its own handles.