The fact that they state they want to test steam on as many different configurations as possible directly contradicts the idea that they're testing ground for a console. After all, a console will only ship in one hardware configuration by definition.
You wouldn't call upon beta testers like this to decide upon hardware configurations. This beta process is definitely for a Desktop Linux client.
There is a chance that the rumours of a console could also be true as well though. There's no reason why they couldn't have a Linux console /AND/ desktop Linux support.
Why would they bother with all the Intel GPU work they have been doing? Whatever "that one" hardware configuration would be, it wouldn't include an Intel GPU...
Without any real knowledge of the industry, extrapolation to back up my point seems fraught with error. How much of Intel's progress has been the low hanging fruit, and is that last 10% going to take 90% of the time? And what measures would you actually use to measure progress?
I think even Intel would have a hard time producing something not just comparable to Nvidia/AMD's offerings today, but future-proof as well. Their stuff has gotten a lot better recently so I don't think there is any lack of effort on their part, there is just too much catching up to be done.
