Quoting: GustyGhostThe point being there is a gradient between the two extremes, to which I would draw the analogy for translation layers and VMs both being different degrees of "running 'Windows'".

Except that Wine and Proton contain 0 code from Windows. The point of them is to get Windows games running with 0 dependence of Microsoft code. If Wine and Proton are not “Gaming on Linux” then most of us would be Windows gamers

We're probably not going to agree, but if you play Windows games you are indeed a Windows gamer IMO.

I think that companies don't divide people into Windows and Linux users that use Proton. They sell games for Windows, and Wine/Proton/Crossover users are happy to support a Windows gaming market. They don't have to worry about native games for Linux.

Quoting: gbudnyI think that companies don't divide people into Windows and Linux users that use Proton. They sell games for Windows

They sell games for gamers, not for Windows. If gamers are using Linux, these companies are selling games to Linux users. Question is the quality of that experience. If it's garbage and companies don't want to fix it - it's bad. Otherwise - it depends.

Quoting: mr-victory

Quoting: GustyGhostThe point being there is a gradient between the two extremes, to which I would draw the analogy for translation layers and VMs both being different degrees of "running 'Windows'".

Except that Wine and Proton contain 0 code from Windows. The point of them is to get Windows games running with 0 dependence of Microsoft code. If Wine and Proton are not “Gaming on Linux” then most of us would be Windows gamers

...while the rest might be happily playing (and possibly even developing – gasp!) games on – and for – Linux.
Regurgitate "chicken, hen", critical mass, yada yada dead horse. As with everything, there appear to be two factions with opposite perception of what benefits them best.
Whatever side, "we" are not going to make a dent in the market for Windows games; if it ever happens, it will be companies being fed up with other companies' monopolies.