I hate it when people say a product "deserves" better. Vita doesn't "deserve" anything. It was built as a high-end portable game device. This is a product that, it seems, not a lot of people are interested in, and it has nothing to do with poor marketing. A poor product concept = poor sales = what the product "deserves". There is no reason why core gamers should be supporting it, other than those that actually enjoy it. I'm a core gamer and I don't like handelds. I stopped using my PSP once I got a smartphone. If I were to buy a handheld it would be a 3DS because it's cheaper and has ALttP 2 coming. I don't want to play gimped COD or AC on a handheld. I don't care about other Vita features because I get them already on my Sony XPeria phone.
If Vita gets a slashed price and some cool new games then it may be a more valuable purchase proposition. As it stands most view it as an unecessary product not worth its cost. Portable gamers seem to like NSMB, Pokemon and Monster Hunter, and those are only available elsewhere on a cheaper competitor. Products are purchased not because they deserve it, but becase they are worth it. Right now the market is saying Vita's not worth it.
