From what i can derive, it's a feature that's easy to add, so even if it's meaningless in terms of sales, it won't be a burden that, if removed, would make 3DS considerably less burdensome to develop.
Cost for the console could be taken into consideration, but if what Iwata said is true (that the $170 price point will get profitable once they get up to enough volume), then certainly they'll be in a good enough price range either way
Content is all that matters here. Glassesless 3D was a neat idea, though obviously not one that would be downright revolutionary for gaming because stereoscopic 3D itself has little to bring outside of minimal depth perception elements (though i do notice that my aim has improved in OoT3D, but that could just be me getting better as a gamer over the years), but lopping off a key feature that's relatively low-burden (and ultimately totally optional as the slider can implement) would really make no sense
The 3DS being exactly what it is was a pre-emptive system in execution, strategically oriented to kick Sony in the nuts (through pre-empting the push for 3D content on PS3 that required insanely expensive TVs and glasses, and to give Japanese developers a platform to put their very successful PSP-level portable games on, to try and leverage Sony out of the comfy niche they had developed with PSP in Japan) rather than to really build outward from what the DS had, so the factors that will really make the 3DS grow are not dependent on the presence or absence of 3D necessarily, as the 3D as well as the console's power level are both pre-emptive and/or defensive characteristics
Monster Hunter: pissing me off since 2010.
