> Video games of yore were actual games you could buy and play with friends.

While this is _true_, it's hardly a good-faith interpretation. The original Mario Bros was around $40 on release. Mostly sold as a bundle with the NES itself around $100.

That's $350 in today's money. Oddly around the same as the switch 1 on release ($299) + BOTW ($60)

Compare the "value" of NES + Mario Bros with Switch 1 + Breath of the Wild.

Yes Nintendo can take one of those away from you, that's despicable, but the "product" has shrunk in no way.