This is something every country has (no matter where, all have a form of VAT and sales tax) but a majority of nations include VAT within the price of the product whilst in the US that’s calculated upon checkout (so technically you are not paying $789 for a steam deck since you add tax, so that amount alone isn’t final).
So in reality, it’s closer to $820 or a game that’s $80 ends up to $95 but are either purchases possible whilst earning $15 per hour? Take the PS5: it’s ¥97,980 inc. 10% CT ($603) while the same is $650 but closer to $680 or more when you add SALES TAX, you can buy the same console in Japan since taxes are included.
You should see how much games used to cost. Here is a catalog from 1992:
That $59.99 copy of Sim City is the equivalent to $142 today.
Yeah. A lot of people want to complain that games aren’t made like they were in the good old days but don’t want to pay anywhere near the equivalent price.