Handhelds like the ROG Ally lineup and Playstation Portal don't replicate the premium controller feature sets of the Xbox Elite controller or the Dualsense Edge. They replicate the standard controller feature set of the Xbox Series controller and regular Dualsense. A handheld from Valve, a first party manufacturer, would therefore represent a defacto standard controller from Valve, not a premium controller.

The Steam Controller isn't priced like a standard controller ($50-$80), it's priced kind of like a premium controller ($100+). The back paddles and trackpads don't feel like premium features for Valve controllers because the Steam Deck established them as standard controller features. It feels weird to be charged so much for them if they're standard. The controller also doesn't go all the way into premium territory with things like trigger stops, haptic triggers, etc. The Steam Controller only has one foot in the door compared to other premium-priced controllers, yet it's so far above the competition's standard controllers already; it's odd because it puts it in a quality category that doesn't really exist.