The reasons for this are very simple, of course:
a) VR is hella expensive, and
b) VR appears to be completely pointless.
Nonetheless, while sites like Kotaku have noticed, and noted, that stories about VR get fewer clicks and more negative comments than stores about actual, playable games, that apathy on the part of VR Luddites like myself hasn't stopped the VR faithful from clinging ferociously to the bandwagon, beating the drum of VR with all the energy they can muster.
Why is a third of Valve working on VR, instead of working on Steam's other, and much more serious, issues? Like the cheating loophole that it took them forever to get around to closing? Or the Counter-Strike skins gambling that they let run rampant on their service for way too long? Or their horrible, horrible customer service? Or the open sewer that is Steam: Greenlight? Or Half Life 3?
Well, quite simply, it's because VR is where the sex is. VR is the new hotness. At least, according to those with a vested interest in VR, or who've drunk the VR Kool-Aid.
So, after five months of this shameless boosterism, exactly how does one such booster feel about the current state of VR?
From Kotaku:
I’ve had an Oculus Rift and the rival Valve-backed HTC Vive headsets for several neglectful months. As amazing as it is to play games that surround you and as crazy as I am about playing video games in general, I don’t use either of my VR headsets very often. Two reasons: difficulty of use and lack of compelling games. The former may improve with future hardware iterations but will be overcome sooner the more we get VR games that can be called amazing without needing the caveat “for a VR game.”
Yep... pretty much as I expected.
I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: you don't need a VR headset. There's nothing you need to do, or even really want to do, which requires VR; almost everything can be done just as effectively, if not more effectively, without these expensive, currently pointless gizmos.
VR is not ready. It will be years before VR is anywhere near ready for mass-market adoption, and none of this current generation of VR hardware will be part of what VR evolves into, when that time comes, if it ever comes. Sony's VR headset will sell better than Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, but only because it will be cheaper; it won't provide any better or more compelling experiences, and by next June all of those Xmas Sony VR purchases will be gathering dust like the useless tat they are.
Now, if you've got $2K to waste, and nothing better to do with it, and want to waste it on VR gear that you'll barely use, then by all means, knock yourself out. It's your money, after all; you do you. But don't expect us to do the same, and for fuck sake, stop preaching about it. After all, as Kotaku themselves put it, our apathy towards VR is entirely rational. It's the VR evangelists who are being ridiculous about this.