Do the cellphone thing. Sell for $50 up front and a 2-year online subscription at $X per month above the base online subscription rate (which is $0 as the base rate for Nintendo right?)
I would seriously consider getting a Wii U with that sort of deal, so long as the monthly payment rate amounted to no more than the actual MSRP. So basically interest-free hire-purchase. I've done interest free hire-purchase with laptops, TVs, and other major home appliances. I don't know why consoles don't go down that road. They'd basically never need to drop from the launch price, ever, because no one would bat an eye over paying off $350 / $300 over a 2-year period ($12.50 - $14.50 per month). And the only specials they ever need to run are short term $0 down. With a 2-year payment term a console never needs to launch at a loss.
Of course if Sony started doing it with PS4 too they'd still be just as screwed as they are now.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
