I was just hearing about the physical version of Wolfenstein: Youngblood coming later this year. The game is getting a release on PS4/XB1 and Switch but the Switch version is just a download code in a box - the other versions will contain a Blu Ray. At this stage I have been unable to find out what the file size of the game is but a size bigger than 16GB is certainly possible.
Here is the link -
https://www.gameshedge.com/wolfenstein-youngblood-physical-edition/

So why not go digital only for Switch? Because devs want a physical presence in stores, they want retail exposure for their games and this physical version allows them to garner the sales that make it worth porting the game to the Switch in the first place. The 16GB physical limitation that currently exists for Switch IMO is directly affecting what games are announced for the system because if a game is >16GB then it's digital only and that reduces sales for that title. This in turn reduces the games coming out for the system which then affects the overall sales of the console. The Switch is great, but it could be better if Nintendo sorted out that issue and if that means taking a small hit per card and offering devs a 32GB card for the same price as the 4/8/16GB card it would be great for the system as a whole.
Let's face it, Nintendo imposed this proprietary format and could certainly afford to subsidize it, especially when they offer a paltry 32GB internal memory on the console itself.

THIS game is still coming but others have undoubtedly not come for the fact a physical release is impossible. If you can't see how a reduction in games coming for the console hurts the console I can't help you. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApX0WuLSyWA&t=480s

Check this video - go to 5:08 and maybe this opinion piece can explain my point of view a bit better.... More games - more momentum for the console. Bigger cards = more games coming to the console but the cost of the 32GB cards is prohibitive.... 

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that half the people in this forum have never actually touched a cartridge.  It has been about 25 years since a non-Nintendo system used them.  

With that said, the fact that the words are being used interchangeably in this discussion does not mean that people don't know the difference. It's one of those things where one person uses the wrong word, and others repeat it without thinking.

The cards have held nothing back. Publishers being tight-asses have.

There is a ton of unnecessary fluff included in games these days that the Switch just doesn't need, like full 7.1 uncompressed audio, high resolution, high bitrate FMV and so on.

The Switch clearly has a growing playerbase, their loss if publishers don't wish to capitalize on that.

The issue with compression is the requirement for decompression. - Decompression takes time, memory, bandwidth and CPU cycles.
Sometimes compression can be justified, like in the case of Virtual Texturing if you have the DRAM to play with.

The Carts themselves however due to their large amounts of bandwidth and low-latency relative to optical media tend to be able to stream data on-demand much more effectively, even compared to mechanical hard drives they hold some advantages, so you can typically reduce the amount of Ram you need that way.

In saying that, Compression isn't a be-all end-all solution to resolving the Switch's limitations, it's a tool, sure, but not one that is applicable for every instance.

I wasn't arguing compression ratios. Just that compression itself cannot be used in every scenario.

Except that's not really the differentiating factor.  There really is none when it comes to consoles/handhelds.  Some people maybe equating these things like carts of old, but they are still: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartridge

g : a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program (console game)

ROM/Flash has come a long long way and certain the costs of old are no where near where they used to be.  The higher prices in many cases is all to due with Nintendo premium and little to do with any negligent if any higher cost of the physical medium.  Where it is necessary for higher capacity cards/carts compression can mitigate that.  Though again I figure if that is a problem for people they can just look at the other consoles to get the higher fidelity.

You don't have to imagine. It's pretty clear by the OP that he values physical releases, and thinks that games not being released physically is hurting the console. He's talking about the qualitative value of the console. Much the same way the Wii sold 100m+ copies, but people universally agree that its focus on motion controls hurt that console, it's clear that a similar kind of point is being made here. Whether you agree with that sentiment, that is in fact the sentiment being made.

The only bit that talks about something akin to sales is the last paragraph saying that devs are likely skipping the Switch because cart size is an issue, which I don't see why anyone would disagree with. I haven't been paying attention much lately, but I'd be surprised to learn that the Switch has amassed a plethora of 60GB+ games over the past year, and at that point you don't need to think too hard to figure out why. Even still, I don't think the point is being made that this reality is hurting the sales of the console, but the OPs perspective on the collective qualitative opinion of it. "It's missing out on a lot of good games because of carts, not because of its lack of power, and that's hurting the quality of the console," seems to be the sentiment being expressed.

How? I can play Doom just fine.

Even if optical discs are getting more expensive to produce, they're still significantly cheaper than a Switch cart. The optical discs are also being used by multiple devices including movies, they aren't dependent on a single console.

I don't see a scenario where carts are cheaper to produce than discs, unless we move away from optical discs entirely. While carts that only hold 4-8GB are useless for most modern games. I anticipate next gen will use both Bluray and Ultra HD Bluray discs, Xbox consoles already use UHD drives so its cheap at this point.

I feel like the compromise developers should make is Switch carts that have no game data on them, but give you access to a game. That way you technically own a game by having the cart and can sell it, trade it, etc. In my mind that's much better than a box with a download code.