The switches aren’t exactly inexpensive though, but putting a decent computer in a cable is always a good idea. Sometimes also a security nightmare.

Some shit like CRS317-1G-16S+RM is $499 MSRP for a new one. Tons of a decade old 16+ port 10Gbit switches for dirt cheap on the second hand market. You would actually pay way more for a decent x64 box nowadays, even refurb/2nd hand... or a box of a decent SFP plugable computers.