I actually did go with the route of using a desktop as my server. I custom built it with the expectation of it being a server I would remote into for games. I have proxmox on it with a windows VM I remote into with parsec instead of sunshine. It allows me to keep a light laptop while still getting the beefy power of a desktop.

A custom PC running proxmox:

MOBO: Asus ROG Strix Z790-E gaming wifi

RAM: 4x 32GB Ripjaws S5

CPU: i9-13900k

GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4090

GPU2: EVGA GTX 1070

HDD: 4x 8TB WD red plus in raid 10

SSD: 2x 2TB Samsung 980 pro in raid 1

PSU: Super Flower Leadex Titanium 1600 W

Case: Fractal Design R5

I run everything on it: homassistant, Plex/*arr, pihole/unbound, my windows gaming VM, etc.