It's pretty trivial for a lot of people to tell the difference between input with a classic console connected to a CRT and to a modern TV. That is the baseline Analogue competes with. Their products are compatible with all modern TVs, has low latency (compared to analog input on those modern TVs), and is still lower than running it on PC with the OS often introducing issues when not using a massively fast CPU.
Something like a retrotink or similar and an original console would also work, but at that point you still have to juggle another separate device, and possibly deal with old hardware failing, subpar replacement cables, etc.
All in all Analogue is to Mister what Windows is to linux, you pay for convenience and the assurance that it'll just work without having to do much or know much about the background processes. If you encounter a problem chances are someone else had the same issue already and maybe also posted the exact solution with a step-by-step attached to it.
With the Mister you better know as much as possible so you can more easily diagnose the problem yourself, it's a lot less plug and play until you're familiar with it.
I'm not entirely sure about the Dock's latency with USB, but I believe they don't use a USB host chip inside, instead opting to have the FPGA handle USB inputs directly. Combine that with the 2.4ghz and bluetooth connectivity and you do have a nice variety of convenient and fast enough connection types that the additional latency isn't as bad as it might be on Windows using the same device. At the expense that USB devices have to be manually supported and the list of currently supported devices for any of those connection types is still pretty short...
All that said, I do believe there is a spot for Analogue with enthusiast people that don't want to tinker, that want to be as close to playing their favorite console on a CRT as they can get with their modern TV set, with none of the hassle that analog signals and cables bring to the table. If you want more than that absolutely get a Mister.
I understand the convenience aspect of it. But this goes back to the point of where if convenience matters to you, then you're probably a casual. And if you're a casual, then the software vs FPGA aspect of it wouldnt even
really matter to you.
BTW, Im not questioning Analogue as a whole, I'm just talking specifically about the Analogue Pocket.
I think the Super NT and the Mega SG are good products that makes sense to me. If you want a clone SNES or Genesis that plays carts, hooks up to your modern TV, etc, then this is the way to go. Its not even about convenience. Theres a need for the Super NT and Mega SG in the modern world cuz your old consoles dont play nice with your new TVs.
Unless of course you have a handful of consoles you want to play, in which case you'd buy a scaler like the RetroTink since its cheaper to get one scaler to supplement all your existing consoles than to replace each one with a modern recreation.
But if for example you were only interested in the SNES, then you cant go wrong with a Super NT.
On the other hand with the Analogue Pocket, Im trying to understand what kind of scenario would this be your best option. If you want GBC or GBA, and original carts, then surely its better to just IPS mod the original handhelds.
Unlike old consoles, your modern needs with old handhelds are met when you IPS mod them or do a rechargable battery mod. You dont
need the Analogue Pocket. At least not for the price you're paying for it. Which is $220 for the Pocket, another $100 for the dock, and also $30 each for the four cartridge adaptors (for Game Gear, Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, and Turbo Grafix 16). Thats $440 for the full set up, excluding cases, screen protectors,
and assuming you're paying MSRP and not scalper prices.
And if you're interested in the FPGA cores and the roms, then isnt it better to get a Anbernic or any other open source handheld since they play far more consoles for a fraction of the cost? A Miyoo Mini costs 1/4 of what a Pocket costs, and it plays anything up to PSX games flawlessly, and has a smaller form factor.
Basically the Analogue Pocket has a few different use cases, but IMO its not the best or cost effective option in any of those scenarios. It sits in this weird middle ground, but is marketted as if its superior to other options just because "its FPGA gaming".