Came here to say the same thing. Having my old laptop board be a NUC for another screen somewhere seems like a good idea.
These days you can go even easier with fully installed plug-and-play Arcade1Up control panel replacements that are literally drop-in - MDF, sticks, buttons, encoders, and audio/display driver card are all built in. You just pull the stock control deck out, drop the $150 Intec deck in, and connect whatever PC/console/FPGA into the video in and USB controller outputs that it provides. You can build a cab around one out of plywood or just grab a random Arcade1Up on sale somewhere.