well, except you're not valve and dont really speak for them.

Neither are you. I am as entitled to expressing my theories as you are to yours. Not sure why you feel the need to take such a brand defensive stance over an opinion that isn't heaping on praise. As much as you want it to be the case you are not their PR representative. Unless you actually are?

so just because YOU find it uncomfortable doesnt mean we all do.

It is all opinion after all, so same sentence can be turned around.

you're allowed to have your opinion, but saying "valve doesnt care about x" then watch them include and improve x is just blatantly ignoring reality.

Discounting hands on experience because it doesn't align with your opinions is also ignoring reality. I'm getting more the sense you are more bothered by the negative opinions given towards Valve than the discussion of inputs. To put some of your mind to ease I do think the Steam Deck is an innovative handheld product and their contribution to linux has been one of the biggest and beneficial movements for gaming.