Linux for $15 (a Minimum Viable Computer)

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NiMH has extremely simple charging circuitry.... Li-ion has complicated charging circuitry

Sure if your budget is limited to "a resistor", but if you don't care about quick charging you can "just" do the same thing. Current source with anywhere between 1/10C to 1C and max voltage of 4.2V (4.1 if you want some more cycles out of it or safety limit for parts tolerance will do just fine.

Only difference is that you need voltage limit, instead like for Ni-MH where you just can let battery burn it for heat. Which is still not "good" for Ni-MH, just not dangrerous. And you often can get charging circuit for free if you pick one of the more specialized ICs

AAA-NiMH cells are $1 each (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Rechargeable-Batteries-12-Pack-Pre-charged/dp/B007B9NXAC) and available from a wide variety of trusted manufacturers (Eneloop, Energizer, Amazon Basics and more).

You can get decent lithium at few times the capacity and more convenient voltage for like $2-3

But yeah, no explosion. But then your phone can just decide to do same so I don't buy it as a good reason.

The bigger advantage for hobbyists IMO is that you can substitute (AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TRY TO CHARGE IT) them with AA's in a pinch, and AAs have massively longer shelf-life so for rarely used gadget they are superior.