It wasn't just it has to run on both variants, they required full feature parity. And the series S was way weaker hardware than even budget PCs of the time.

That's the worst part, the memory is cut back too much. Now from todays standpoint, it might make sense. But back then at launch, memory wasn't this expensive thing as we know it now. Not only is it just 10gb, even handheld PCs have 16, its also much slower memory connection. This is too much.

With consoles, the console is the baseline... Adding an extra entry that is half the specs, while the competition adds a "pro" version that is beefier, makes things harder.

Oh, and you do have to release on it. Microsoft demands parity, which is the issue. If your game doesn't run the same features, same build, same etc. on the Series S as it does on the Series X (obviously performance notwithstanding as long as it is playable as per MS requirements), then the game doesn't get published.

Also, "everyone deserves culture" and "you don't have to release on it" is kinda antithetical.