[quote name='chimpmeister']A handheld with two screens (in which the 2nd screen is often of dubious value, and often unnecessary) is a far cry from a home console where you are playing games on a (typically) fairly large single screen in your home. THe Wii U tablet controller just looks like yet one more attempt by Nintendo to add a "hook" to their hardware to reel people in and buy it.
I believe Nintendo realizes that they can't compete in terms of pure technology and hardware design (they haven't for many years), so they throw in some new and "innovative" gimmick to try to boost sales. The problem is that very often these gimmicks just don't pan out, and end up not really improving games. An example, in Metal Slug on the Wii, shaking the controller to throw a grenade is a silly attempt to use the motion controls just for the sake of using them, and it actually detracts from gameplay (doesn't help at all, its just annoying).
If I want a handheld tablet-based game system, which includes extra controls such as the analog sticks on the Wii U tablet, then I would buy just that (and such an enhanced tablet may be a gaming platform for the future, for sure). However, having a tablet connected to a home console is kind of silly; anything you need to interact with is right on the big screen, you don't need the tablet, just a controller.
Nintendo is trying TOO HARD to make "new and innovative" peripherals and hardware, and more often than not this stuff is just a waste of time and money. This was true on the Wii, which ultimately failed to really offer any great new concepts, although Sony and Microsoft realized the casual potential and introduced their own motion controls. And it is true on the 3DS IMO, in which the 3D gimmick is the big selling point, but really doesn't add much to the games (and actually causes problems with extended use or if you aren't viewing at the right angle/distance).
I own all the older Nintendo systems (NES, SNES, N64, GBASP) and many games for them, but from the Gamecube forward, I passed on all of their new stuff; none of the new gimmicks reeled me in, and it just wasn't worth the effort. If they just focused on games alone, they'd be a lot better off; they should go the way of Sega and become a game developer/publisher only, and skip the hardware, since they just don't design good systems anymore, and haven't for many years.[/QUOTE]
I was thinking about shifting through the points you made (some I disagree, some agreeable, some irrelevant). But since you claim the fact two screens are pointless because you said so and without even owning a DS, it's hard hard to take you seriously. EDIT: I apologize, I misread your post. I missed the word "often" and I would agree that it can be completely unnecessary at times. Personally, the most important use I have seen for it, is a map or hub in a complex game. It can make the gameplay flow more better.
Also, if you're not going to get the Wii U already there is no need to worry about a feature missing in a console you wouldn't use(ethernet). This is assuming Nintendo's consoles don't actually reel you in anymore and aren't even "worth the effort." If the Gamecube didn't interest you, there isn't a reason why a similar successor would grab your attention.