Depends i guess.

A normal laptop is already power optmized in comparizon to a desktop pc but would probably 4-10x the amount of electricity it consumes compared to a new and efficient pi.

This seems like a lot, especially if it is run continuously. 50 watts to 5 watts can mean 25 to 250 €$ a year. Which is quite a steep difference.

But the vast majority of people (like 99%) will not have to deal with this comparison. Also, 50 watts on a laptop will mean A LOT of load. Even if someone decided to run it continuously, it still wouldnt necessarily consume that much.

The much more important aspect in my book is helping to democratize the world through normalization of not buying new. Everyone who decides to keep using instead of consuming helps the cause.