I think the key here is that this market hasn't been affected yet but it will be more than likely. Also just because you can get the card doesn't mean you can get all the rest of the components to build a PC. I definitely don't have the newest latest or greatest. No DDR 5 RAM, no fancy current gen or even previous gen video card. I own a PS5 and a gaming handheld with Linux on it. And those two pieces of hardware have gone up in price instead of down in price and will more than likely continue to rise.

Last gen hardware will see a price increase it it hasn't already the longer the AI bubble BS goes on. Because you're right. people will opt for that if they can't afford the latest and greatest. Are they going to pay $650 for that same 3080? Harddrives are twice as expensive and not something that last forever. Mobos can die and the fabs that make them may in fact be switching to making other components to fuel production of AI chips. RAM isn't a magical component that never goes bad and it's going to dwindle in availability for DDR4 and possibly DDR3 when businesses realize they can't get the new stuff for their business suite computers. They're already salvaging RAM and in some cases Harddrives from their used computers before they sell them off.

AI is a symptom but it is making things worse and has the trajectory to continue that trend until it crashes and dies.