Proton does not support all games ( I often like playing older ones that don't even run on Proton as of yet ) and having to add exe programs to steam just to be able to run it is just silly.
For programs that work, adding them to the steam library is just the easiest way to get them running. You can always install Proton/Wine the old fashion way if you really want.
A VM completely defeats the purpose of having Linux as your main OS, I'm somebody who's earnestly tried Linux multiple times and this is the main piss take with it. Everyone throws that out as a solution but you may as well pick the annoyance free option that you know works rather than have Linux at all.
I can see why many people consider it a more straightforward option to come up with work arounds and break Windows' behaviour than deal with Linux, it's just a fact Linux is nowhere near ready for mass adoption because of this.
Proton does not support all games ( I often like playing older ones that don't even run on Proton as of yet ) and having to add exe programs to steam just to be able to run it is just silly.
For programs that work, adding them to the steam library is just the easiest way to get them running. You can always install Proton/Wine the old fashion way if you really want.
For older windows games, a VM should work.
A VM completely defeats the purpose of having Linux as your main OS, I'm somebody who's earnestly tried Linux multiple times and this is the main piss take with it. Everyone throws that out as a solution but you may as well pick the annoyance free option that you know works rather than have Linux at all.
I can see why many people consider it a more straightforward option to come up with work arounds and break Windows' behaviour than deal with Linux, it's just a fact Linux is nowhere near ready for mass adoption because of this.
I don't know what to tell you beyond
"it works on my machine, git gud"
Then don't be shocked if people just roll their eyes and stick with what they know works.