Because that would be a massive selling point for me as my life is always changing and I never know where I could be in a years time. I don't cart TV's around from place to place so this is why portable gaming has always been for me.

Yes considering the game supports off TV play.

Yes, theoretically, but it would depend on whether a particular game supports off TV play, most do. You also might run into some issues navigating the OS interface, trying to think of some examples.

I obviously know this, what I mean is is there an initial set-up involved that requires a TV.

Without EVER connecting to a TV? I'm not sure. I know you can go from plugging it in to playing a game on the GamePad without it being hooked up to a TV, but I'm not sure whether it requires any kind of updates out of the box, or whether those can be done without a TV provided you have an internet connection.

My guess is that it requires neither a television nor an internet connection to work out of the box, but this is a guess. I have downloaded updates without it being connected to a TV, so I suppose even if it requires an update, you don't necessarily need a TV.

yes, there is one step only: synching the Wii U Gamepad. 4 keys are displayed on the TV that you have to enter in the gamepad. 

So no then?

you are right, cannot be done out of the box

by the sound of it, it doesn't matter you bound to get access to one tv to sinc your gamepad to your wiiu!

you could always guess the combo =P