Then you have to upgrade every 5 years minimum.

As opposed to what? Replacing a console every 2/3 ish years if/when it breaks and the same 5 years when a new generation comes out? Even baseline models didn't actually last that long as various redesigns would come out and replace things.

The original PS is a 5th gen console from 1994, so in 30 years there have been "5" PS consoles averaging 6 years with shit maths. I say shit maths because in reality the original PSX was released in 1994 before the redesigned, compact PS One came out in 2000. Still 6 years though, right? Except the models afterwards whittle those numbers down fast.

Original PS2: released in 2000 with the Slimline model 4 years later in 2004. PS3: 2006/2009/2012, PS4: 2013/2016/2016, PS5: 2020/2023.

So that's 12 different PS models in 30 years, bringing the shit math average down to a measly 2.5 years. Even just 2.5 years in terms of computer developments is a lot, so 30 years is going to be beyond revolutionary.

For the same money I spent on it over that time I could have bought 4-5 PS5s

You can't deny consoles provide value for the money

How the fuck is that an argument FOR consoles? You are still only limited to PS5/brand console games whereas a PC not only lets you play games from other companies but also do a shitton of other shit.

1/2 PCs = 4/5 PS5s? So in the lifetime of 2 PCs you go through 5 PS5? Meaning your PS5 will die several times in the lifespan of your PC - and that's before even considering getting the various redesigns mentioned above.

The fact PCs are modular enough to simply upgrade components is a boon because you swap out parts rather than having to buy an entire new console, which is the same problem with smart phones these days since Apple spearheaded that particular model years ago and other companies followed suite.

On a similar note in order to use a PC you need: a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. That's it. They don't need to be Playstation keyboards, or Xbox monitors, or Nintendo mice, you can buy a keyboard for 10 to 20 dollars/pounds that will easily work for both non gaming needs and gaming ones. Want to spend more for an actual "gaming keyboard" then you can do so, but even then you can still do that far more readily with great choice of product than when it comes to most consoles where you have to buy their products to use or wait for shit knockoffs to eventually happen. Nintendo at least had some sense permitting the Switch to Gamecube controllers because IMO the GC controller was one of the best designs for a console in a long time and didn't need much done to it.

You know what PS5s have that PCs don't? Extra subscription costs to go online.

Xbox does the same. So in order to do what most of the rest of the world can do, you need to pay even more money before you can start playing.

You what consoles don't have that PCs do? Mods.

Go look at any discussion of games like Stellaris, which more or less live and die on the playerbase mod supply, and understand just how much of pale shadow the baseline is even compared to non total conversion mods like STNC, Mass Effect, Star Wars, and various other franchise inspirations. I've seen countless newer console Stellaris players comment on how superior the game looks on PC simply because of what mods can add and change. Even just very simple things like voicepacks which can be an alternative to the default Advisor voices - some of which are quite frankly completely shit.

Modders often fix the various fuckups introduced by updates far sooner than official patches even start getting worked on, let alone deployed. On top of that mods can also remove playerbase gripes that Devs decide are a good idea after huffing their own farts for so long. Even just basic Notepad++ editing can be enough of a difference to games like Stellaris, X-Com 2, and any other game you can directly inspect and edit values for. Consoles in the mean time are shit out of luck with that and have to make do with whatever disasters the Devs release and hope any bugs that are found get worked on without bricking saves yet again.

PCs can also directly access autosaves for games where you might want to replay/experience certain parts of a game where saving is no longer "allowed".

Ignoring the whole "console peasants" meme side of things the only outcome of the "console wars" was doing to be meager, minor victories over each other that might last a generation or two while PCs just kept doing their own thing ignoring the squabbling going on alongside them, because consoles have never been a threat to PCs simply due to the massive downgrade in quality consoles always bring with them, be that hardware or software related. For hardware go look at how many times advanced previews of games have turned out to be done on PC and the final product on consoles has looked atrocious in comparison. For software go re-read the bit about mods.

Do consoles have a role? Sure, local multiplayer where you can multiscreen or connect up with devices like a Switch. But for single player content, or online co-ops, PCs not only provide a superior service but do so without then price gouging you for basic requirements like online access, hardware, and shoving shit updates on you with no choice.

You used to have to upgrade that often but GPUs have plateaued and they're not going to get much better except for more AI features. There's never going to be a game a 30XX series Geforce card can't run.

Even the cheapest gaming PC costs double a console

Steam Deck says, "Hi".