Nope.
Handhelds aren't holding the series back, since the only benefit you've said so far is HD and bigger maps. A very important aspect of pokemon is people playing it in small, bite-sized quantities. On the way to school, during lunch, right before bed, or on long trips.
Local multiplayer is still a super important part of the game. Friends coming together and playing the game.
A pokemon game on a console would be fine, but it would likely be different, and it's definitely not essential for the series.
And yes, the social aspect of the game is a major part of it's success. Another part is that as a nintendo handheld game, it will be cheaper and easier to get, and the most important thing about pokemon is that as many people play it as possible.
And, as dessert, here's this:
The 3DS has the power to make a 3D Zelda. Yet Nintendo decided to still make another top-down Zelda, because more power didn't mean they did not see validity in the style of play. South Park was only animated like that to be cheap. Now they can afford to animate it fully, but kept the limited style anyways. More power doesn't mean the series is obligated to change, and so, just because they have a Wii U now doesn't mean they are obligated to go to it.
