Presumably Valve could record all the serial numbers at the factory and simply block steam logins from accounts don't own a steam machine for the first year or so. The hardware wouldn't be locked, it'd just be steam that refuses to allow logins from the wrong account, steam already sends over your hardware id during the login process so they definitely could use it.
replyAnd yes, it's not hard to spoof your hardware id, but who is going to buy a machine at scalper prices only to then need to run sketchy software to even be able to use it. It'd completely kill the scalping market and not affect anyone buying one to use.
Exactly. If you're selling stolen or pirate product at a cut rate, people will tolerate goofiness for the better deal, but if you're scalping and people are paying above-market, they're not going to take the risk on sketchy purchases that may get their Steam account banned or something. And the scalper isn't going to take the risk buying a ton of product they can't unload, so even Valve stating they will enforce this would have a measurable effect.
replyImagine buying the SM for a teenager in your family that doesn't have a Steam Account yet.
replyFirst: Imagine a situation that won’t happen. A teenager without a steam account?
replySecond: They could easily allow any account to log in as long as the account that bought it is an actively logged in profile.
If you think that 'teenager' is too old (which I am skeptical about, considering the current popularity of Roblox), replace by 'kid'.
reply----
More complications, more points of failure.
It's a PC everyone expects to play games from a proprietary platform with an account system. They absolutely could lock how it’s used similar to how cell phones are locked with carriers today. And it would eliminate scalping.
replyBut as I said, you don't like it. ;) Scalping is freedom, if you want to remove scalping, you have to remove some freedom.
I personally wouldn't call it a loss of freedom. You could put another OS on it, without limitations. You just wouldn't be able to log into steam unless it's the correct account, just like steam refuses logins from hardware banned devices and banned accounts.
reply>> But as I said, you don't like it
reply"Truth in advertising" in your OP :)