Again, until games are in the hand of gamers, I don't care about controlled environment demos.  Remember Fallout '76...

Dismissing a next gen console based on hardware specs is pretty petty, Wii didn't lineup with PS3/Xbox 360 and it crushed both of them that generation.  Switch has plenty of capabilities that the PS5/XsX won't be able to offer, such as play anywhere which is much more appealing to a lot of people than you realize.  Game play is a factor of next gen, if games didn't evolve then the gaming market would most likely die (like it almost did before the NES).  Dismissing game play as part of next gen offerings is again very petty.  You even mention that games haven't evolved because of old hardware...

Form factor... the big, ugly, gaudy offering from Sony will turn people off alone, so yes, form factor is certainly a part of the next generation.  The Xbox One X/PS4 Pro have really good form factors that are subtle and fit in with modern living rooms.  The next generation consoles, to me at least, do not have appealing form factors at all. The DualSense controller so far seems like a gimmick that will be abandoned fairly quickly.  And yes, things like Game Pass/xCloud are a part of the Next Generation of gaming.

And again, pushing boundaries with graphics is having a much less impact as time goes on. So what if a game looks a little better because it has better makeup, eventually you will look past that makeup and realize that you were duped into a bad decision.  If I really wanted to just have the best looking games possible I will just stick with my PC.

I play on a gaming laptop and always have to go into settings to get decent performance (i7 8750h, GTX 1060) out of bigger games. Elite Dangerous I have to change settings while playing depending on whether I meet up with other people. Train Simulator I have to change settings based on the track / area. Forza Horizon 4 works better with CPU boost disabled, while train sim needs the boost or stutters very badly when loading the next chunk of data. Forza Horizon won't work with a DS4 controller, Ori does mostly but still better with 360 pad. Need I go on.

PCs can't make tailor made games for fast storage since it still has to work from HDD. Consoles can balance everything perfectly, just look at HZDs woeful port to PC. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-horizon-zero-dawn-pc-tech-review When consoles start optimizing for SSD porting to PC is only going to get harder, or they'll simply require more and more ram to compensate.

Something that is innovative, takes advantage of the hardware in an unique way, etc.

BotW is a great example of "next gen gameplay".  The "open air" design was refreshing for a stale genre, the game is perfect for the hardware it was released on between being a great game to play with a console, tv and controller in a long gaming session or as a handheld game in small gaming session on the way to work in a carpool (shrines for example).

Fair enough.

I didn't dismiss the Switch hardware. I said it was very impressive for a handheld device. I have one myself and it is a good console. Its just not 'next generation' for me as I've grown accustom to the software and limitations of current gen hardware. Doesn't mean I can't or don't don't enjoy playing games on it. I can whip up my phone and play some emulators, or 3DS. Graphics don't hinder my enjoyment on games. So yeah, while Switch a cool piece of tech, it doesn't impress me with visuals or does it break any new grounds with gameplay. Its just the games are super polished and play great (Odyssey was bloody excellent) which is a good reason why to own one. Lets not go into older generations and keep things on topic.

About the look of a console, its a gaming device that you stick under your TV or have in your hand, it doesn't matter as long as you have the games to back it up. DualSense a gimmick, how? I don't follow. Want to elaborate.. You just seem to focus so much on the form factor as a focal point and its super confusing. I guess you like portables, which is fine. It just seems like you're just making up excuses to pass upon Playstation, which is also fine but yeah.. I digress.

Again you miss the point. Having better and more advanced hardware (and software) pushes the gaming industry forward. It allows for more creative freedom and different experiences, whether it will be from indies to AAA budget games. That goes for Nintendo devices as well.

The whole warping thing could be done with loading screens on current gen and no loading on next gen. That whole ratchet game could be done on current gen if the was loading screens used for the warping parts.

A 20 second loading screen would kill the immersion. At that point, the level warping might as well get axed.

Actually, I don't like handheld gaming at all, lol.  I think part of our disagreement is that you view Switch as last gen while I view it as the launch of the new generation of gaming.

The way a console is put together is very important... as for the DualSense, it sounds like they want it to try and feel like you can feel stones while walking or something.  I can't imagine a vast majority of people will even care about that (I know a lot of people that don't even like just rumble to begin with) and I imagine it can't be worth development time in the long run.  It's a gimmick that will fade away when developers realize no one cares. And yes, I will pass on the PS again, I don't like their games at all.

And again, you miss the point, having better and more advanced hardware/software is irrelevant if it's just more of the same thing with prettier makeup on. Xbox One/PS4 generation games could be enjoyed on 360/PS3 hardware with just worst visuals for the most part, look at what the best selling games are every year/week for them (GTAV, CoD, Madden, FIFA, etc).

I think a talented developer could make it work without having to use loading screens to change the environment.

Fair do's. I just view it as a decent gaming device, and doesn't really belong in any generation much like most Nintendo hardware. Its the exclusives, as always that matter. Like with most Nintendo gear. Also its been out for 3 years already, you can't really call it next gen device anymore, its current gen :P

Haptic feedback allows for better immersion. Like HD rumble for switch but a bit more accurate. Having tension in the triggers sounds like it can be pretty cool as well. Its just little pieces that can add to your experience, there's nothing gimmicky I can see about that. We've pretty much plateaued in terms of design in what can be achieved with controllers why not make touch and feeling something a bit more involving. I doubt it will take a lot to implement these features in game.

I've explained the reason for this. Without new hardware there would be stagnation in the gaming industry. Just look at the amount of hype for the PS5 and the SX. People want to play new games. And yes that includes mainstay titles, even with prettier graphics.