They're probably limiting because of the pandemic. They're considered essential (They've been open since the beginning of the lock down) because everyone now needed a computer, or two or more. limited supplies.
I don't think they are limiting because of the pandemic. Usually when stores are limiting due to COVID19 its usually the amount of people inside the store so its not crowded or they are limiting sales on certain essential and low stock goods like toilet paper, hand sanitzier, Lysol wipes, etc. A gaming GPU is no way considered essential. You don't need a high end GPU like that to go to school or do business.
I also checked my Craiglist area and there isn't too many overpriced GPUs listed yet. You could essentially buy up an entire farm and pay good second hand prices for GPUs. I think unless BTC breaks $20K or ETH breaks $ 1400 and we are seeing $10/day/GPU I don't think there will be any GPU shortages yet.
it has nothing to do with the amount of people in the stores... it has to do with demand. with the coming of age of smart phones, people were less likely to own a computers. But because of the pandemic, everyone is now working from home, so now people are needing computers at home to do work, and in addition you now have kids doing school from home. You need computers with monitors to effectively do this.
it's not the components themselves that are considered essential, it's the industry as a whole that is considered essential. They don't consider what's essential on a component by component basis, but an industry as a whole.
