I don't think it matters much. Unlike with the Wii U where Nintendo needed people to buy it because it was their new console and they were dropping support for the Wii, the New 3DS is not replacing the original ones -- or more importantly, New 3DS titles are not replacing 3DS releases. Nintendo will continue developing 3DS games and selling them to their 40 million+ user base. That's where the money is made.
People keep bringing up confused parents, but I don't know what 8 year old kid or whatever put Xenoblade Chronicles on his Christmas wish list. Clearly this hypothetical child's parents are doing something right, but as I said I don't think that will be an issue. The 2DS is for children. The new 3DS is for teens and adults -- for now, until Nintendo announces exclusive Pokemon games for these things, and then they're for everyone.
