Docker is more than a cop out for than one use case. It's a way for quickly deploy an app irrespective of an environment, so you can scale and rebuild quickly. It fixes a problem that used to be solved by VMs, so in that way it's more efficient.
With 640x480 screen i doubt it'll be used for web browsing, unless you use lynx. Firefox in a pinch, but my guess is this will appeal mostly to Linux terminal users.
Full-size usb, Ethernet and keyboard mean you can use it as a Linux computer, install arbitrary debian packages, run shell scripts, python scripts, and you don't need any dongles. This is the differential factor. You can't do the same on a smartphone, and it's not supposed to be a smartphone. Why would you need a separate sim card when you can simply tether Internet from your phone?
I get that this device isn't for you, but there are people who don't want to write and maintain apps through apps stores and simply want to copy simple scripts into a small device they can have with them. It's a niche market and good for them for trying to fill that niche.
I wonder what they use for charging port if not usb c...
I tend to stick to the same authors, so I trust them. I doubt Michael Connelly, or John Grisham will use AI and even if they do the book will still end up being good because they will use it as an inspiration rather than copy paste it into a book.
They will sell less or none if they have to compete with products made in USA sold without the tariff. That's the idea.
But manufacturing in USA will also increase prices, so yeah, Americans will pay more.