I think some of you guys severely overstate how difficult this stuff is.
It's the other way around, this community is often in denial of out-there reality, it's a bit of a conservative bubble, with time that only grew more obvious for me.
It's not always a question of aiming too high with extra fluff, even the most elementary steps are often very alien to people, especially those who grew up with tech that requires
zero handy/electrical experience nor tools, nor any actual computer knowledge (that's most ppl who are like under 35 if not older, that's how far away demographics are from 'old tech', and even more dramatic considering people who engaged in even moderate-skilled tech activites/learning have always been only a small portion of the population to begin)
I know this community's frequent typical reactions, regulars will line up to state the same basic message:
- I have no particular tech/IT skills!
- It's not too hard I did it
- It's your fault n00b you are the problem
But I know it's mostly BS, you have some tell you that and then later casually drop how they were making their own machines and programs in high-school back in 1995 or something. If there's one meme that fits BYOAC it is "okay boomer"
No really, teasing aside I only agree to recommend the simplest, most straightforward short-route for the beginners as a first experience, safe, no extras at all.
Because going straight for the full thing today just doesn't fit the demographics, and not just skills-wise but also in terms of investment (also depending where you live)
So in a way...we kind of agree Mike, just not in regards to what to aim for.
If this is the kind of stuff you are going to come up with I would suggest a simpler hobby.
No they go to RetroArch instead, or buy emu-toys online like that superb Capcom stick or a 1-Up.
n00bs who struggle are often confronted to either too laconic/short answers to their questions (skilled person provides quick answer assuming the requester is at a certain level of skills/knowledge/understanding) or so advanced they're overwhelmed.
And if the n00b loses his cool he'll be somewhat ostracized, receive the cold shoulder/silent treatment because the old dogs at some point will begin to see him as an annoyance/parasite.
To avoid that all n00bs need is the clearest, most to-the-point documentation landing point for the simplest most direct build route first, written and presented in terms and fashion that can be the most universally understood. (no talking in command lines like mamedev do, more pictures to illustrate, direction towards safest/surest hardware and sotware references in place of giving general directions, that kind of stuff)
The problem is information and communication, the recent FAQ-that-never-was dead thread is an only just more salient example of that continued malaise.
And the people best-suited to create better conditions are the most skilled, but unfortunately likely the ones who least want to do just that.
Because that's additional work, and boring at that, but also because they long lost the ability to speak/think in layman terms.
Ideally even if they don't say it out loud, it's the same in all niche-tech-oriented communities, they would likely stay a small group between skilled-gentlemen without nervous n00bs around disturbing the peace, it's almost like a cultures clash.
Mamedev are the most vivid example of geeks/nerds going full-isolationism (don't worry BYOAC is far from that sad example, mamedev literally despise the end users base like vermin) with the consequences honest people know about.
TL;DR building a cabinet, or even a non-cab GroovyMAME setup with facultative steps/extras, should be discouraged for first-timers, or not without giving them huge red flags warnings.
Instead n00bs should be pushed to a simplest/safest basic/naked type of build solution, of which explanation is super-refined for the broadest demographics layman understanding and accessibility. Kind of a solid landing, spine, for all newcomers especially the unskilled majorityIn that way, again I agree with oliver.