Hawkeye21 said:
You just described how DSLR cameras are objectively better than point-and-shoot cameras and are technologically superior. They are even subjectively better by your own admission if you take time to learn how to use them and invest in them. Thats actually a good PC vs consoles analogy, but it seems you missed your own point. PCs and consoles both have their niche, but PCs are objectively technologically superior, have bigger game library (20 000+ released games, you can play all of them with relatively little worries about backward compatibilities), versatile (you can plug in whatever gamepad you want, VR capabilities coming soon, can play videos, mp3, PS1-PS2 games with emulators, whatever you can think of really). The only saving grace of consoles is that they are easier to use compared to PCs, but as with DSLR cameras it is easily remedied just by putting some effort into it.
As for PCs being more expensive, well, all things worthwhile generally are expensive. Such is life. But you can pick and choose PC components you want based on performance and price, and find eventually that you paid less than you expected to pay.
Edit: I don't hate consoles or console owners in general, I would even buy PS3/4 if I had extra money for it. It does, however, rustle my jimmies when console fanboys start loudly proclaiming how much their console is better than all PCs ever. It's just not true.
My point wasn't that 'PC's are superior'. My point was that
it doesn't matter if PC's are superior. Its all about whats best for whom; PC players whom declare that their platform is superior in every way forget that its not necessarily for everyone.
Take, for example, your dismissal of price and usability as "It is easily remedied just by putting some effort into it" (in leu of the fact that ease of use shouldn't need effort), and "all things worthwhile are expensive". Heres the thing though: some people don't want to put effort into their gaming (or photography), and don't want to spend massive amounts of money for something that they, personally, don't see as worthwhile;
and thats OK. Not everyone needs to be an enthusiast. Not every photographer needs to know about the nitty gritty details of photography, and not every gamer needs to have a custom-built rig to have a little bit of fun.
And besides, while you dismiss usability and ease of use, those are both serious concerns for many consumers. (both of gaming PC's and DSLR's)
edit: I forgot to add: people who
do decide that a console (or point-and-shoot) is better for them and buy that instead of the technically superior PC/DSLR should most definitely NOT be patronised for their purchase. The sort of flaming PS4/Xbone fanboys have against each other is bad enough, but the sheer elitism of PC users, comparing people who want to use consoles as 'dirty peasants' is somewhat tiresome. Just like I shouldn't admonish people for getting a point&shoot just cause I have a DSLR, PC users shouldn't look down upon console users either; they're just different platforms for different people.
