Maintenance-free, auto-updating, single-purpose computer? For many people, it's everything they need a computer to do, with more convenience and less fiddling around with stuff they don't understand.

I like the form factor. Small but not too small, ok keyboard, good hardware: i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, converts to tablet. I run Fedora Linux after removing ChromeOS (the only thing I'm missing is running Android apps). Bought used for cheap (they were never officially distributed in Poland to my knowledge). Taking about Google Pixelbook "eve"

They can be very cheap for the specs you get. Some people might also prefer the more locked-down nature of the OS for security or UX reasons.

(They're certainly not my cup of tea though)

Chromebooks are not for everyone, but they have some real advantages. Generally less expensive, highly secure and easy to use. Seamlessly run Android apps and Linux apps. Great integration with your Android phone. Os stays clean over time.

I personally run fedora and do a lot of development, but if I was limited to a Chromebook I could do what I needed and not hate it.

Eh... I would never purchase one myself but they have some good use cases. They're great for schools because kids always break devices and they're cheap to get replacement parts for. They're also quite easy to use for web browsing, which is basically all most people do these days. Another great use is for old people. Handing a Windows device to a senior is almost a guaranteed virus/malware host.

Hardware-wise, my Pixelbook was fantastic. 3:2 screen, touch+pen, solid yet lightweight, decent enough performance.

The software was... tolerable, at best, but the support for Linux desktop and Android apps made it much more tolerable than Windows or macOS. That ChromeOS technically represents the fabled "Year of the Linux Desktop" is a depressing thought, but for what it is, it ain't terrible.