I think a lot of people keep comparing it to Xbox One and Kinect. They figure if Microsoft can do away with the Kinect then Nintendo should be able to do away with the Gamepad. The problem is that comparison is very flawed. First of all, Xbox One was never designed with end to end integration with Kinect. Microsoft wanted everyone to think it was by requiring it but it really wasn't. Xbox One in it's current form would have come to be even if there was no Kinect. With Wii U, that entire system was designed around that Gamepad. It's not something that could simply be removed from the equation after it's release. The Wii U would have been something completely different had there never been a Gamepad.
People talk about patches and updates, but does anyone have an idea of how truly insane that is? We're not just talking about an entire overhaul of the system's UI. Think about how many games would need updates. Think of how many games publishers wouldn't even bother with. At this time, a $200 Wii U with no Gamepad would have little to no value since most of it's games would be incompatible. Even worse, look at a lot of next year's games. Zelda would be incompatible. Star Fox would be incompatible. So there could never be a Gamepad-less Wii U. It's a matter of something that should or shouldn't be done. There should be a Gamepad or there never should have been one. it can't be both.
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