The new controller will add alot. We can't even understand all the impications yet as developers could do so many things its not funny. Also making the connection with the DS lower screen is wrong as this screen is portable. Imagine if you were playing a game while doing video chat on the controller with your friend. Playing multiplayer games with multiple controllers (If Nintendo changes their minds) would be mind blowing. Then theirs all the ways the screen could interact with Wiimotes and such.
I think we will see lots of benefits to the controller once developers start creating content for it and supporting it.
As for the graphics upgrade, WiiU is said to support 1080p resolutions and a much better frame rate then Wii. Prettier games require newer hardware. Sure you may not see the upside to better shading and graphics but I can say with certainty that the graphics did need to be upgraded and this is the natural evolution of technology.
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
