I wouldn't mind it tbh. I love the pro controller. The only two games where I prefer the Upad is ZombiU and Wind Waker HD. Seems like every game from Nintendo these days have pro controller support anyway and the interface stuff is just an update. They wouldn't even have to patch the older games...except 3D World I guess...

I want a cheap Wii U with no control pad (just a regular controller is preferable).

Otherwise no buy, sorry.

If Wii U tossed the gamepad, then Nintendo would have no selling point except their own exclusives.

Wii U is underpowered compared to X1 and PS4 and lacks the third party support. Its only differentiator is this gamepad.

I just bought a Wii U for $200 from Nintendo.com and guess what...it has a Gamepad.

A console with the Upad is less of a selling point than a console without it at this point. They should just bite the bullet and do it imo...

What would be the point tho? 

At this point Wii U is what it is, nothing can save it. 

I think lack of overall demand is their biggest issue. They can drop to $250 sure, but it will be a temporary boost followed by a return to a fairly unimpressive baseline most likely. Nintendo is probably thinking they should just pocket the extra $50/unit. They probably are stuck with a lot of these controllers too and I don't think they want to be the ones eating the cost on them. 

Although plenty of people swore up and down that a "2DS" would never happen too, heh. 

HAHAHAHAHAHA No.

Seriously though WTF happened to this, wtf happened to everything the WiiU was supposed to be??

They could lower the price significantly because its the Upad thats the expensive part of it. They could also just release an Amiibo reader for people without it. Thats more money in their pocket.

80$