For me, I'd just give more options. The figures currently are fine. But I would of had the card versions available, at launch of any new figure. And the DLC sold standalone. I'd even put the card version with the figure, as a bonus. Give it to a friend, or something. Second: If a new figure comes out. Take the TP one. It's apart of Zelda. It will work in all games that already allow Zelda, no matter what.

I would also have a Gold Mario statue, be a full unlocker. It costs $50. Because its higher quality then the others. And allows current and future DLC unlocked in ALL games. So whoever doesn't like collecting. Has these options to buy the stuff, in many ways. And no store exclusive BS. I'd probbaly allow them be a bonus to the new Club Nintendo type service. Like, if you own certain amount, you can get this item etc. Own every Zelda Amiibo. You win 3 posters. This would not inhibit the rewards gotten by the service, normally. Just another way of doing it.

Your sugestion to keep all amiibo series equivalent is similar to my colour classes one. But what you say doesn't promote the multi-game compatibility, it just keeps each amiibo series compatible with each game series.

I agree that the card equivalent should have released by now... or maybe just offer the DLC digitally.

I would put very important content on them that cannot be unlocked if you don't buy the amiibo, like exclusive weapons, story dlc, new maps and areas...

Also, I would make each of these features exclusive to specific amiibo. Like, the weapon in one amiibo, the story segment in another different amiibo... and so on.

1-Have the modes unlocked by them beeing unlockable without the Amiibo IE: collect X Starcoins and you'll unlock the mode OR buy this cool figurine that unlocks the mode right away !

2-Have them play modes similar to Splatoon where you only re-play a level with a different weapon/character. this could have fit well with the Shovel Knight Amiibo: buy the Plague of Shadows DLC OR buy this nice figurine that unlocks the Plague of Shadows;

3-release a game that is somewere between Skylanders, Nintendo Land and Wii Sports:
the game itself is 20$ it includes only an improved version of Wii Sports (and Resort) and the main campaign in the key of Skylanders, as it is now, you can only play it with your own Mii but, if you purchase an Amiibo, you can play as that character too AND you unlock an additional minigame in the key of Nintendo Land based off that specific Amiibo.

How is that bad? You want to please the consumer, and make profits. Not piss people off, and gouge in certain areas only. The goals to make money. In no way these sugestions inhibits that. Unless you want to be greedy, or something. Who cares if the amiibo's sell a little bit less, then what it is doing now. The money is gotten from the other options people can choose from. So you won't be losing money. Then on top of it, you have happy people. Selling DLC that's done better than other companies. Nintendo's god rating increases. And the bonus of people buying multiple figures. Making you even more freaking money.

Amiibos would work the same, but would also come with a Eshop Token. Eshop Tokens will randomly unlock a digital first party game (higher rates for the older the game) for the console you redeem it on. So you would have a chance to get something awesome like say M&L: Dream Team, but you'll probably get Volleyball (NES). Once you use that unique amiibo token, you can only activate that game using the amiibo.

I'd give the customer more options to get the content if they don't care about the figure.
This has more to do with what I'd do about DLC that comes out after the game's release rather than the amiibos themselves.
a) Buy the figure with the content
b) Buy the content off the eShop and not bother with the figure
c) How about we make it like the good old days where you could unlock things by playing the game further and accomplishing tough tasks in the game! Remember those days, guys?
Why don't companies make it so that you can download the content off the online store for free, but it's still locked and from their you can do one of two things. 1) Unlock the content within by playing through the game ad accomplish a certain task/number of tasks in the game, just like old times. 2) Buy the content, just like that.

As for amiibo, the way Twilight Princess HD did it with the Link and Zelda amiibos I think are one half of the best way to do it. Make it so that you ca do things by tapping the figure that you can already do perfectly fine within the game, but it takes much longer and is more tedious to do without the figure. The Zelda amiibo is essentially a red potion you can drink at any time and it never runs out. Same with Link and Toon Link with the arrows.

For a Super Mario game, the Mario amiibo can give you a Mushroom at anytime. Luigi amiibo = Fire flower
Peach amiibo = Star
Bowser amiibo = Poison mushroom, because why not?
Basically, just give us some options.
As for the 2nd half, IF YOU REALLY want to make use of them and make them more than just collectables, just make a D.I./Skylanders type Amiibo game already. There is an audience for that, after all, and they tend to sell the best or are at least sell a big chunk of their amount on Nintendo platforms, hell Skylanders and Disney Infinity are really the only 3rd party games the Wii U has left!! so, why not take advantage of that?

With it being a dlc action figure, pretty much, they kinda had to expect this to happen. I still haven't bought any for my 3DS, but i'm planning on getting Shovel Knight, at some point. It's the first one that i actually would have a use for.

I would put very lame content that nobody would be missing if didnt existed, mostly fanservice and little gimicks you cannot do without amiibo so I can give 40 years old men an excuse to buy them even if they only really want them because they love the toy. Oh wait. Thats exactly what they are doing, nevermind.

I'd say just leave them as collectibles. On their own, they're decently made figures and I'm sure people would still buy them just for collection purposes considering that's what a lot of people do, including myself. Haven't used any of my amiibo other then Splatoon and a couple for Smash when they first came out.