I would've got one if it wasn't so pricey for these specs.
You can get a cheap Anbernic for 40-60$ running linux, with decent ARM CPU and a good backlighted screen.
Tbh I find it a bit weird to talk about leisure devices like a handheld in terms of pure specs as if it was a server for number crunching. I use it to have fun, and (for me at least) a huge part of that is UI and ease-of-use.
Yep!
> The Playdate has bespoke games designed for it …
Not quite as many as [every 2D home or portable console]. For instance, I enjoy [dozens and dozens of Nintendo games], but there are thousands of others to choose from.
Yes, emulators up to PS1/NDS. There are also many bespoke and commercial linux games that run on these devices via portmaster[0] (for commercial games you need to provide your own files).
I use my 34XX clamshell to listen to podcasts and audiobooks in rockbox [1].
If you take some time to setup alternative OS (e.g. MuOS) there is a good video player and even terminal emulator available with root shell.
And of course, you can write your own games and apps to run on it (SDL, pico8, Godot, Love2D, etc).