Yes it seem like a lot, and actually it is a lot but you could also consider...

-Very often this gen Nintendo has bundleds controllers an other periphericals with games.

-A wiimote+classic controller costs about as much as a dualshock3, add 10$ if you want Wiimote+.

-if you want to add 3 players, you need 3 controllers what's different from any other console?

-You would prefer to spend something like 100$x3 or more to have 4WiiU controllers?

-From what demos and concepts are showing, the console will use wiimotes by the default not only the new controller, so probably a wiimote and a nunchuk will be bundled. (I think we all agree that a WiiUsports game is a given)

-If you are already a Wii owner you already have some wiimotes, nunchucks, and maybe even classic controllers.

-If you consider that more traditional games will come out for the console as well (Tekken for example) classic controllers will be useful for more games.

Because the system it is attached to needs to process the video for it, and output it.  Also, Nintendo needs a high def entry into the home console arena to be competitive.  This controller is just a differentiator.  I still see that the 3DS will be an option as a controller for the Wii U, and also will still be an option for fully individual screen play.

Duplicate post... ignore.

Then I won't be getting it, maybe I'll wait for the console Nintendo releases after Wii U, with support of multiple tablets at once, and the tablets would have 3D screens, multitouch front and back of the screen like the PSVita, clickable thumbsticks (supposedly Wii U's controller's thumbsticks aren't clickable) and a camera on the rear too.

Fuck it then.

You are looking at ye olde lan party method, which each person having their own system and controller.  There is also the 3DS as a controller for the system.

retail arnt going to like that , say target cuz i work their electronics we make alot more on their games and accessorys then consoles we get hardly like few dollers for console but make more on controllers and etc and u cant buy multiple controllers yea your screwing the retail already

I honestly can't see this thing selling anywhere near as well as the Wii. It appears to be aiming for everyone and no one at the same time.

geez this is looking worse with each detail.

I hope that Nintendo gets more than one Wii U controller usable at the same time. Imagine that you have a game made to fully use the controller. What would happen in co-operative mode? You could use any other Wii controller but it just wouldn`t be the same.
Not to mention that if for some reason you broke the controller by accident...