ZippyRedPlumber

Then I agree.

I used my Amstrad CPC 6128 (the one with color monitor and disk drive) as a console from 1989 to 1992! It was my first video game system, I was 9-12.

30 years later, I feel a bit ashamed of not trying at least to create a simple Basic game. But again, I didn't even know it was possible! (I actually watched a friend create a simple Basic program for some seconds, but my brain kind of ignored the whole situation as not-a-game and not-fun).

Of course, in my case the machine was not too affordable as a children's toy: my dad gave it to me (he was a Physics teacher and used it to simulate movements) when he bought a 286 PC, but it was like having a ZX Spectrum with 16 colors (and very big pixels) in half of the games.

I still can't believe the mysterious things my dad spent so many hours with on these old computers were not part of his job. All my life I assumed that, but the revelation came to me a few months ago.

Well the early home computers were more for beginners compared to the more expensive personal computers like the Apple II & IBM PC.  The games aspect was to make it easier for kids (and some adults) to get more comfortable with using the computer and eventually learn BASIC programming which teaches people how computers really work.

Once they mastered that part, then it's time to upgrade which means buy more add ons to do things like word processing or just get a much more powerful computer like a PC.

(As far Atari 8-bits go, the 400 was a low end model for people just starting out while the more expensive 800 was meant for more serious stuff like the Apple II was.)