I don't think that's common for PC gamers at all, most I know just have larger and higher resolution monitors before connecting them to a TV.

I myself just have a 27 inch monitor for my PC, and it's separate from my consoles in my living room.

Except this doesn't compete with a laptop's power, since ideally you're streaming from a more powerful PC to the handheld (albeit with some lag). And it would be easier to game on this then it would with a laptop on a couch or in bed using a keyboard/mouse, at least for games that work with the controller. Not to mention the Android games that are available.

I don't disagree that the audience for this is limited and niche, I just think your comparisons are off.

Did anyone end up getting this? I see it's now down to $200 and they've increased the game PC streaming options. Seems like not such a bad deal at this point.

Is it really that much better than playing the same games on my phone? PC streaming seems like a good idea but I'd never use that feature. I need a bigger screen for those type of games.

You can stream your PC games to the Shield, then to your TV over HDMI via the Shield's console mode. You'll need a bluetooth controller for that though.

The list of supported games will continue to grow, though obviously not every game is 100% controller friendly. You can actually stream any game you have on Steam even if it's not on the supported list as Steam Big Picture is a supported application.

I don't personally care for it myself. I find the device too heavy and bulky. Also, in order for the clamshell top to work, the controller itself is concave a bit, and my hands don't really fit right.