People are keeping cards for longer because they have shrinkflated the upgrades under £600. Most cards on Steam are under £600,so mainstream gamers if they end up spending more will just keep their cards longer and longer.
It's the same with smartphones once Apple/Samsung started shrinkflating their smartphones,people kept them longer and longer.
But also its clear they are diverting supply to other markets too IMHO.
Yep, my phone is currently 5 years old, I expect it to likely last that long again.
Much preferred the days where I could get a Google flagship phone for £250-300 outright and it would last me a couple of years.
Now for flagship Google want £1000, its just obscene, especially when I'm likely to drop it and damage it in some way.
I think twice spending £1000 on a telly that I know I will have for 10 years at least