Clickbaity title on the original article, but I think this is the most important point to consider from it:
After getting to 1% in approximately 2011, it took about a decade to double that to 2%. The jump from 2% to 3% took just over two years, and 3% to 4% took less than a year.
Get the picture? The Linux desktop is growing, and it’s growing fast.
We’re talking about the 6% market share Linux holds in >desktop< usage. Not about how somebody is aware of what OS they are using.
It doesn’t matter if people who buy a steam deck is not aware he’s using a linux desktop OS…
A lot of appliances use a linux kernel (I would assume), but that does not make it a desktop OS.
If someone buys a Steam Deck and uses it only to play games then would you say they’re acting as a desktop computer user?