There's a constant attitude of PC superiority over consoles because of, better graphics, more modding, more indies, supposedly better controls, etc.

So, as a guy who has never indulged in handheld gaming and kind of resent how much forum discussion there is over an inferior product, I wonder why there isn't the same stigma over handheld gaming from console gamers?

Some things handhelds have: Much worse graphics (even Vita), Tiny screen, poor controls compared to even consoles. A tiny cramped screen. Poor sound from tiny speakers.

Yet it seems like the Vita dominates message board discussion and has this positive glow around it even though it's a terrible seller. 3DS is seen as some sort of font of innovation and fantastic games.

If you're going to take the "graphics dont matter, stop being shallow" tack, explain why the PS4 is constantly said as superior over Xbox One over a relatively minor difference in graphics (certainly the difference between PS4>X1 is much less that X1>Vita)?

At least consoles imo have multiple arguable advantages over PC (ease of use, comfy couch, biggest screen/sound system in most homes etc) . Other than portability (with terrible battery life, and I think most people on forums actually play their portables at home) portables have NO advantages. So why isn't handheld gaming (dedicated, I'd argue phone/tablet gaming is looked down on, proving the weirdness that dedicated handheld gaming isn't even more) looked down on?

Because consoles and PC games are the same market for the most part. But handheld consoles are a very different market than pc games.

That's my guess, anyway.

Brain Damage. Its the only thing that makes sense.

Because handhelds don't offer the same gaming experience as home consoles or PC do and when a game gets launched on all devices, they usually get their own version, different from that of home consoles and PC.

Or to put is another way, because no one ever compared handheld with home console gaming while many have said that consoles would kill PC gaming.

Because if someone said "handhelds suck because they don't have as good graphics as PC" then people would look at them with an expression that comes from a combination of two thoughts: "Who gives a fuck?" and "You're an idiot."

I don't know why people look down on handheld gaming. Some of my favourite games of all time are on handheld consoles! They are really good devices for gaming, just as the PC is.

You just need to ignore those comments that make fun of the platforms you use.

the more two things are alike the more people will try to highlight the differences in order to make their own choice/preference look superior