GamingOnLinux - Linux Gaming Will Be Fine Even Without Steam Machines Succeeding. Thanks Linux Today via Ant.
The main problem right now is the watered-down term "Steam Machine" thanks to the hardware manufacturers that jumped-ship early, and they released what would have been a SteamOS machine as a customized Windows machine. We can't blame them due to how long Valve has taken, and it certainly hasn't helped our cause. This doesn't mean Steam Machines will fail as soon as they arrive though, but if they do fail, we will still be fine.