I didn't know we got to the point where installing 3 packages was domain specific knowledge, especially for Linux users. I guess it explains why I feel s out of touch with people welcoming walled gardens with open arms.
It's interesting, I hate walled gardens due to their restrictions, but I feel no restrictions regarding Steam. If anything, it enables me to enjoy my purchases more, not less.
I'd never use an iPhone because I hate the restrictiveness of their app store and how you cannot use whatever browser engine you want. I dislike consoles for the same reasons, I hate that I need to buy a switch and play on it (with it's inferior hardware) to enjoy Nintendo exclusives (yes, I am aware I can emulate their games and get a better experience). I hate Discord because they force you to use their client and still use mumble/IRC. There are probably examples of things I avoid because I don't want to support them.
I find Valve a completely different story. They've probably done more for Linux gaming than any other company. I am personally not inconvenienced by any of their restrictions. Like I previously said, in my mind, they add value to my game purchases, not remove it. I will gladly keep giving them my money, it's probably one of the few companies that I have strong positive feelings for.
Granted, I do remember being pissed off when they forced me to install Steam to play Half-life 2 back in 2004. Back then, it was a shit walled garden that provided no value. But since then, things have changed drastically.
experiences are different. I play/read a lot of VN's and Valve's policies for approving those are like throwing darts on a board. I simply got tired of reading one VN and having its sequel mysteriously rejected a few years later. That's frustrating to both me as a gamer and the developers. I don't feel like picking up a pitchfork everytime and simply will avoid Steam whenever possible.
and on a very personal note, I find the Wine workaround as just that. another flimsy point of failure waiting until Microsoft does what it is historically known to do. It doesn't encourage much linux gaming for me nor does it make me feel like I'm supporting linux gaming by using it, because it's at the mercy of yet another conglomerate.