No one gives a shit about the fact that HP is making another useless piece of hardware, but it's more about the fact that a major OEM is considering a linux alternative rather than slapping windows on a mobile device and shipping it like everyone else is.

The more OEMs that work with Valve on utiliing SteamOS means more pull that Valve has over Microsoft to make compatibility with games better, and even game developers themselves whom some ignore Steam Deck users entirely by ensuring their game will not work on it.

This is a win for the linux community as a whole to have the backing of an OEM, even if it's a shitty company like HP it's still a good sign and will hopefully mean other OEMs follow suit.