If you see the silver lining of the Steam Machine as an advertisement for SteamOS, then a small launch of cheaper units getting better press coverage could have been a good play.
From the Gamers Nexus review, it looks like anybody who buys this also gets to be a SteamOS beta tester.
A hardware leaker accuses Valve of bungling the Steam Machine launch. Moore's Law Is Dead questions the delay in its release date, hoping for falling memory prices. An earlier release date may have reduced the mini PC's cost and led to more positive reviews.