What they are trying to say is Steam gift cards might not be able to be activated by physical stores (e.g. convenience market) at some point in time. Physical stores might stop selling them even if they still have them. Almost any stores will run out of cards way before this happens.
Edit: Valve might still support activating them, but the stores software might drop support after a few years (or months, idk).
As you said: Once activated gift cards will likely be able to be activated for a few years, at the very least (legal requirement), likely longer.
Edit 2: Obviously there’s no real reason to care about this. If you need physical gift cards, buy them now.
What they are trying to say is Steam gift cards might not be able to be activated by physical stores (e.g. convenience market) at some point in time. Physical stores might stop selling them even if they still have them. Almost any stores will run out of cards way before this happens.
Edit: Valve might still support activating them, but the stores software might drop support after a few years (or months, idk).
As you said: Once activated gift cards will likely be able to be activated for a few years, at the very least (legal requirement), likely longer.
Edit 2: Obviously there’s no real reason to care about this. If you need physical gift cards, buy them now.