But its mostly about great games and by abundance you must mean every 3 months versus 2-3 monthy where the xbox and playstation are concerned. Diversity and abundance is always present in the market leader and even if you think Nintendo make the best games, they simply aren't frequent or diverse enough. I

Please look at the numbers..... WiiU is about to pass both the Dreamcast and Saturn ...... 2015 should be the peak year.

It's already on pace to pass the Gamecube. Expect lifetime sales to be north of 25M. Comparable to N64.

Just for curiosity but, what do you mean with "compelling hardware"?

Wii U will be supported till 2018/2019, next console will be announced in 2017 and released in 2018

I'd give it 2-3 more years.
3 being a bit more generous.

I think the 3DS is going to hold Nintendo up for a bit, but after the variations are done (I'd say one to two more variations) They're really going to have to think of something to top the DS line. They've had that for about 10 years now, and unless the next consoles really impress I have concerns for Nintendo's future in the hardware department.

If that's the case, I'm affraid he'll be disappointed. Sony and Microsoft have no problem selling their machines at a loss, hoping for royalties and PS+/Live to get some of that money back, but if WiiU has teached something to Nintendo is that if they sell its machines at a loss, they can suffer greatly.

It's because of that that I can't see Nintendo competing in terms of equals to neither Sony nor Microsoft, at least if we're talking about the next offerings from all 3, if you/he means the next Nintendo console vs PS4/X1 then that is at least more feasible.

Ninty can use a cheatcode (raw power...look at PS4 lets be real) or the innovation route like Wii.  The Wii U gamepad was neither, in fact, the gamepad would have been the perfect "icing" for a system like XB1 or PS4 to separate itself from the competition.  The gamepad is a hardcore device but since there is not enough power, the hardcore (you know who i mean) ignore the system.  Its like ninty trying to sell pizza (gamepad) but without cheese or toppings (power).

Nintendo will phase down support after 2015 IMO.

Lets actually look at what they did with the GameCube:

After 2004, the only major EAD/Retro/Int Sys projects the GameCube got were Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, a bongo platformer.

Sure the GCN got a few games from Nintendo from 2005-06, but they were mostly outsourced, B-tier stuff like Geist, Battallion Wars, and Mario Party games from Hudson, none of those games were from their main teams. 

They clearly ditched that platform to go work on the DS/Wii. And the GameCube was selling considerably better than the Wii U is.

Another 3 years, so 2015, 2016 and 2017. Do you really expect solid support for WiiU in 2017 if the successor is released that year? Don't they need all their manpower for the launch-games of the successor to have a strong launch?

Wii support died after the release of Skyward Sword, a whole year before the Wii U launch, since they needed the teams for the WiiU-launch-games.

Ninty has been behind in certain areas but they are starting to catch up.  I predict Nintendo also will have subscription service, and will do away with the "virtual console".  Whether most of the Ninty catalog will be available or their slowly leaked method is the main question for me. Not that it has to do with selling HW at a loss, its just smarter business for Ninty to make more money.  This is esp. my prediction if they go the fusion route, where they make the home console an optional purchase.  

As far as being disappointed, maybe from a fanboy perspective, but I've been "forced" to buy PS and XB the last 2 gens to get my full gaming experience, so even if my heart lies with Ninty I won't short myself of AAA offerings on consoles.  But yes I do prefer Ninty to back to GC and prior where they always compete to be the best all around.  

For what I think Nintendo will do (not nec. what I want), I think they will go weaker than XB1/PS4 b/c the main console will be their HH, which will be a step up from Vita.  Even combining tech (if possible0 with the home console for their fusion, I still think will come up shy in raw power to PS4Xb1.