How is building the thing going to save us? Once you prove the market some FAANG with infinite pockets will buy you out or make a better, cheaper version that seamlessly integrates with their ecosystem (that their customers rely on, rightfully or wrongfully) and destroy you.
The Steam Deck is cool, but it's not a success because of its repairability or hackability. Valve is just a rare example of a privately owned corporation with enough profit to indulge in such things. Need I remind you Steam earned said profit by essentially denying you complete ownership of video games you purchase?
What we have is a problem of incentives, and the government is the only power that can alter those at scale. The only reason the Fortune 500 don't sponsor televised gladiatorial bloodsport is that it's illegal, which means the government will send guys with guns to stop it and arrest those responsible if/when it occurs. The government is "saving" us from that, just as it "saves" us from having chalk in our flour and lead in our water.