As with anything pushing technical limits, there’s always risk. But what you’re describing isnt purely an issue of pushing realism in gaming, it’s an issue of pushing for profits above all else. These exact practices happen in less realistic game development as well.
Anyway, as stated, I don’t think all games should try to push the graphical envelope. Most games I play don’t attempt this. But I’m glad games like TLOU2 exist and appreciate the devs behind it.
I’m also in the desktop camp. But I just purchased a Framework 16. The upgradable dGPU (assuming they release new ones) might make laptops more viable for gaming.