New computer day!
I decided to follow my own advice and buy a Raspberry Pi 500+. It's set up in my bedroom on my desk and I'm writing this on it. Hurrah! No more wanting, let's start having!
I'm quite happy with my new computer so far. PiOS looks and feels like an artifact from an alternate timeline where RiscPC becomes the dominant desktop platform instead of Intel. The hardware is indeed high-quality and reassuringly weighty. The peripherals and keyboard feel good and are a pleasure to use. The Pi might be a low-cost platform, but nothing that came in the box felt cheap.
I also bought a games controller, a mug, and an official mousemat to go with my setup (which consists of a 16 inch portable monitor resting on cheap tablet stands and some speakers I had laying around). It didn't take long to set everything up and I'm very happy with how it looks in my room. (Pictures some other time?)
This is the first desktop computer I've had for a long time, so I hope to get along with it. I'll come back to report more news in due course. Hopefully I'll be having a good time! :)