That's the thing. Most cyberdecks that I've seen weren't really designed to be used as daily drivers so much as to look cool and/or be fun to build. From an ergonomic standpoint, most people are pretty well served by a standard desktop or laptop form factor; those with special needs probably would not make the same choices to serve those needs as are made by cyberdeck builders. (I'm talking the tiny, off-center displays, knobs and toggle switches on the front panel, etc.) Of course the best, coolest builds are custom; that is a mode of expression by the builder. Kinda like the next level of case modding. But even then it's not just a custom-built computer, it's one with an aesthetic sense of "the street finds its own uses for things" in a crapsack futuristic environment like the ones Gibson wrote of.
There are some really cool devices that split the difference between cyberdecks and mass-market devices; the MNT Reform and DevTerm come to mind. Sweet-looking as they are, they don't veer too far from standard laptop ergonomics, the DevTerm choosing to emulate those of the popular Tandy 100 series of portable computers.
There are some really cool devices that split the difference between cyberdecks and mass-market devices; the MNT Reform and DevTerm come to mind. Sweet-looking as they are, they don't veer too far from standard laptop ergonomics, the DevTerm choosing to emulate those of the popular Tandy 100 series of portable computers.