I don't get steam machines, they're just prebuilts except they come with SteamOS installed and this one doesn't even have that, it comes with Windows 8.1... alrighty then!

I think the whole point is form factor. They're smaller than a PC you can build yourself because they're not using standard parts.
I can't see myself buying one unless its somehow cheaper than a normal PC, tho.

SteamOS version probably won't come until 2015 at least. SteamOS and Steam Controller aren't finished yet!

This is something that is really appealing to me because of, like steev said, the form factor. I barely have room for a mid-size atx tower so why not get something that is even smaller and doesn't generate as much noise or heat? Of course price goes into this but I would be very tempted to buy something like this.

This is something that is really appealing to me because of, like steev said, the form factor. I barely have room for a mid-size atx tower so why not get something that is even smaller and doesn't generate as much noise or heat? Of course price goes into this but I would be very tempted to buy something like this.

Mini ATX bro

aren't all mini-itx boards from like 2006 or so with old core 2 duos

aren't all mini-itx boards from like 2006 or so with old core 2 duos

No