What could Valve do with the Steam Machine...?

I've been thinking some more about the Steam Machine's troubles and the latest summary article from Ars Technica has me thinking about what their options might be. 

So, let's explore the possible scenarios...

Now is not the time to buy a PC...

Normally, I'm a pretty big advocate of PC gaming - I would class myself as an enabler because I love technology, enjoy playing around with the hardware, but also using it to enjoy technologically advanced games. I spend time online helping people not only to build and buy PCs but also troubleshoot their issues in order to improve their experience with that technology.

 

However, as part of the moral and ethical framework I hold in my head I just can't advise people to buy a PC right now. Let's get into why...