I know... Upgradability...
I tried virtually building a desktop rig at a computer store site, but, even without the added cost of a monitor, which I don't have, and the added costs of having it assembled, I don't seem to be able to stay below the price of a similarily specced laptop, at least if I want an i7-9xxx, 16GiB RAM, SSD and at least a Geforce 1660.
And I couldn't find any decent pre-built desktops in my price range either.
Yeah, pre-built desktops pretty much have either a low-end and an extreme high-end. Mid-range and up you're better off building your own. I forget about that. We can probably walk you through the process, but you'd need to turn the screwdriver yourself.
A desktop would net you a much better monitor and keyboard, fewer heat issues (including performance-related ones), possibility for upgrades, and longer life, but if you're looking at slightly higher prices, it's a decision.
16 GB of RAM and that GPU are good enough for now, but might lead to performance issues in a year or so (more big game companies are aiming for 4k or even 8k graphics as a low-end, which takes massively more resources).
PPS this is not an uncomplicated conversation. Everyone has different needs and good quality parts are restocking inconsistently right now.
Yeah. Once you have a desktop, it's cheaper to upgrade or even rebuild, but from where you are today, it's not an easy choice.