It's like a laptop but for people who think laptops are too normie.

A computer whose cyberpunk aesthetic and retro-style form factor are more characteristic than the features it provides. Even so, most can be used as a portable pc if accomodated. See this gallery in DDG: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cyberdeck&t=fpas&iax=images&ia=images

They are cool pieces of technology to build and, I guess, use up to some point when you'd be better off with an actual laptop. Still perfect for people who live in the terminal, though!

I imagined this thing locked on my arm like a Pip-Boy

There was a really cool subreddit collecting cyberdeck designs. Unfortuneatly !cyberdeck@lemm.ee hasnt gained traction so far

It's when a Steam Deck and a Cybertruck have a baby.

Indeed, it's funny how retro 80s/ early 90s design is sort of back in style. Not in a big way, but still.

I just want a pre-assembled rpi-ish device with a touchscreen and 99% enclosed case that anyone can buy and drop an SD card in. I know FCC testing makes this prohibitively expensive for many companies but I still want it. It would make so many products I want to sell actually feasible.

I think this is more of aesthetic choice. :)