Personal computers were considered just toys with very little real-world value for a long time too. And you might be limiting your thinking with VR/AR. Do you or anyone you know use face filters? That's AR. Lots of the rising generation are already stoked in VR/AR. Also Meta Quest 2 has sold 15 million headsets, that's hardly something to scoff at.
Ah, 15 million is more than I would have guessed. I’m admittedly out of the loop on this stuff.
I had a feeling the rising generation is into this, though I would have been too. I suppose what I wonder is if something that appeases that enthusiasm and anticipation can actually be developed. But perhaps for kids and young adults it doesn’t need to be amazing — it just needs to be more immersive than a TV.
My son has a Quest 2 and never uses it, and we got it used in great condition for $250 CAD. That left me feeling like these things are failing to thrive, but it’s very anecdotal.