The reason why regenerating health is a standard in games now isn't because it makes it easier for console players. It's so that the player doesn't have to experience the game only in the way the developer intended. Regenerating health allows players to take risks and get up close or hind behind cover.
Half-Life only lets you heal at certain stations for a limited amount, and it's a huge problem when you're low on health and you have to fall a certain distance to progress the story and you die every time. Half-Life is absolutely limiting in terms of letting you experience the game.
Marathon back in 1994 had similar health stations to Half-Life except you could heal an infinite amount of times. Why? Because it allows the player to experience the game his own way and heal himself when he needs to. Halo got rid of that and just made health (shields) regenerate automatically.
