I don't know why I love it so much, but I do.

https://startrek.website/post/1328367

I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. - Star Trek: Website

Also, are malware-free cursor applications still a thing? Or does it make me an old man to want to do it in 2023?

Switch to Linux and you can change your mouse cursor to always be a gauntlet.
I might not switch on my current daily driver, but I’m seriously thinking of converting an extra PC I have lying around and seeing what all the fuss (foss) is about.
I’ve installed Lubuntu on my ancient laptop and it’s amazing how much faster and more stable it is! It’s almost like a new machine that is also crap for gaming 😄
Gaming is 90% of what I use my PC for, which is what has been holding me back this long.

Mileage will vary depending on the type of games you enjoy. In particular, the worst group of games are multiplayer competitive with invasive anti-cheats - those tend just not work at all.

Otherwise, gaming in general has gotten very viable, they run anywhere from okay to great from my experience.