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What's going to surprise you is that a lot of Switch games won't work on Steam Deck even though technically you could emulate them. Native Steam titles are completely different, so it's not a "platform switch" in the sense that you keep your library. If you've already spent money on Switch games, those don't work directly on Steam Deck unless you buy the Steam versions or get into emulation, which is a hassle to set up and doesn't always work perfectly.
Raw power is the strongest point: Steam Deck lets you play stuff that Switch will never be able to handle, so if you got bored with Switch's limited catalog or want more demanding games, it's worth it. But keep in mind the battery isn't that great either, especially if you're playing heavy games, and it's quite a bit bulkier if you're used to Switch's portability. For couch gaming or long sessions at home it's fine, but carrying it around everywhere is less convenient.
In my opinion, the key question is whether you want to start a new library on Steam or if that transition scares you. If you're eager to explore PC games but in handheld form, go for it. If you're expecting to keep what you already have, think hard before selling your Switch.
It really depends on what kind of games you play and how much portability matters to you. The Steam Deck is raw power compared to Switch, so if you play more demanding titles or want better graphics performance, it's gonna blow your mind. But if you're into indie games, retro stuff, or chill things like Stardew Valley, Switch is still perfect and it's lighter too, fits in any bag no problem.
What you need to keep in mind is that with Steam Deck you lose the convenience of physical games. On Switch you buy a cartridge, plug it in and you're done; on Steam everything is digital through the Steam platform. That means you have to keep an eye on sales, manage your library in the cloud, and if your battery dies during a trip you don't have anything physical to fall back on. Deck's battery also lasts fewer hours than Switch, though that depends on the model.
Another thing: your library. If you already have games bought on Switch, they won't transfer over. There will be tons of titles on both platforms, but some Switch exclusives stay there. On the other hand, Steam has a massive catalog, way more games, emulators if you're into that, and generally cheaper. If you're looking to expand what you play, Steam Deck wins by a landslide. But if you just want your Switch games on a portable device, that's where it's not worth it.
Don't expect it to be a straight upgrade because the Steam Deck is quite a bit bigger and heavier if what you like is playing while lying on the couch or on short trips. Now, if what you're after is access to an endless catalog of games at way cheaper prices and you don't mind tinkering with settings a bit, it's totally worth it, especially considering how much the compatibility has improved for emulated Switch titles.
The best way to decide is to check your Switch library and see how many of those games you have available on Steam or in the Steam Deck catalog. This is where I get kind of obsessive with checking: I went into ProtonDB and wrote down the ones I played frequently. If you find that most of your current titles are already on Steam with good compatibility, then the switch makes sense. Now, if your collection is mainly Nintendo exclusives (Zelda, Mario, Pokémon), well, you're gonna be short because that doesn't leave Switch right now.
The ones who brought up the portability thing are right that the Deck is bulkier, but I think they downplayed something important: with the Deck you have access to literally thousands of games without being tied to Nintendo's store, where everything costs 60 bucks. On long trips or if you spend a lot of time on the couch, it's infinitely better. The battery lasts the same or less than Switch, that's true, but the machine's firepower makes up for it quite a bit if what you care about is playing newer or more demanding stuff.
My recommendation: don't sell your Switch yet. Get a Deck, use it for a couple weeks and see how you feel. If after a month you're still picking up the Deck more than the Switch, well, then you think about selling it. The risk of regretting it is low because both machines hold their value, but it's better to be sure before making the switch.
If you're worried about losing your Switch games, try emulators on your PC first or even on the Steam Deck itself to see how they run, that way you can see what would actually work for you without dropping money upfront. Then there's the thing that a lot of indies that run perfectly fine on Switch have native versions on Steam and they fly on the Deck, so you'll probably find there's a ton of stuff you wanted to play but didn't know existed on that platform. My advice: before you sell it, borrow a Deck for a couple of weeks from some store that allows it or ask in communities if anyone's selling a secondhand one so you can try it without any commitment!
If your problem is that you want more power and a better game library, the Steam Deck solves that, but people forget to mention that you need to keep an eye on which games run well because not all of them run equally smoothly. Before you sell your Switch, try ProtonDB to check the compatibility of the games you play most, because ending up with a handheld that doesn't run your favorites well is frustrating.
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