Valve clarified that all Steam Machines will ship with one 16GB RAM module (not two 8GB sticks); while future builds may change, current signups will receive units with a single 16GB RAM stick.
Valve is hinting at a potential revival of Steam Machines with new "Powered by SteamOS" branding, suggesting official SteamOS compatibility for third-party hardware. Valve's Lawrence Yang has expressed interest in expanding SteamOS to more handheld devices, and recent updates indicate progress towards this goal. The improved compatibility and performance of modern SteamOS, especially with the success of the Steam Deck, make it a viable alternative to Windows for gaming hardware manufacturers.