I get what you're trying to say but I really disagree. You can compare the two because they're offering the same basic premise. The ability to play video games in a handheld form. Of course the price is different. Of course the capabilities are different. Of course the power of the two machines are different. That's a given. They're two different pieces of technology. We compare technology based off of what they're offering. These two machines are offering the same thing. The ability to play video games in a handheld form. In what world is anything that's offering the same thing as another thing not up for comparison?

For me the Steam Deck made the Switch a redundant device. You can compare them apples to apples. Store experience? Steam Deck wipes the floor with the Switch. We all know the Switch has a horrible store experience. Online capabilities? Steam Deck. Don't have to pay $20 a year to use online capabilities with my Deck. Form factor? Steam Deck is a big bulky machine but it's more ergonomically better suited for me because I'm not as scrunched up like I was holding the Switch lite. OG Switch may have a better experience there. Games they offer? The only thing a Switch offers that separates the two in favor of the Switch is the ability to play Nintendo games natively without jumping through hoops.

You can say the Switch is a console and the Steam Deck is a PC all you want. That's factually true. You can even compare that. They're both computers with a processor, a fan, some form of gpu. One offers a closed off user experience bound to the rules and end user license agreement of a single company. The other is an open full blown PC experience where the makers of the machine say do whatever you want to it. Because you can do whatever you want to a Steam Deck you may run into problems with it that you wouldn't otherwise experience on a console. That's a fine and fair comparison.

To say they aren't comparable is shielding the Switch from criticism. It's doing a disservice to anybody who is looking for a handheld device to play video games because you're hiding information from a perspective buyer who may have a certain set of requirements pertaining to purchasing such a device.