It's a matter of perspective. Back in the day, CPUs didn't come with FPUs and the latter were optional co-processors. The idea in the x86-world always was to

It's a matter of perspective. Back in the day, CPUs didn't come with FPUs and the latter were optional co-processors. The idea in the x86-world always was to "outsource" special requirements to dedicated hardware (FP co-processors, GPUs, sound cards, network cards, hardware codec cards, etc.), instead of putting them on the CPU package (like ARM-based SoCs). So it's different philosophies entirely - tightly integrated SoCs vs versatile and flexible component-based hardware. It's The One Ring ([ARM-based] SoCs) vs freedom of choice and modularity (PC). If I don't do simulations or 3d-modelling/rendering, I am free to choose a cheap display adapter without powerful 3D-acceleration and choose a better audio interface instead (e.g. for music production). The SoC approach forces me to buy that fancy AI/ML-accelerator, various video codecs, and powerful graphics hardware with my CPU regardless of my needs, because the benevolent system provider (e.g. Apple) deems it fit for all... Torvalds is just old-school in that he prefers freedom of choice and the "traditional" PC over highly integrated SoCs.