Whats so funny about it? If you have a PC and run Steam directly, even if its not SteamOS, it acts like a Steam Machine. That's why I said "So basically". I am also familiar with the original Steam Machines, but they were much different than what we have today. Why is it a thing now, and wasn't a thing back then? Because it wasn't ready back then. How many Linux only games did we have on Steam? There wasn't a builtin Proton, and also Steam and the operating system itself wasn't ready. Valve also didn't make their own handheld and left the production to third parties, who made expensive PC hardware. There was no reason to buy them.