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Wyrdness on 22 March 2018
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Jumpin said:

Switch is not the successor to the 3DS. The big differences are that Switch can function as a home console with multiple users and the higher price point of both software and hardware - double in both cases.

With the 3DS, a handheld, the 25K yen was deemed too high as a value proposition; but 30K yen seems just right for the hybrid Switch console. With handhelds, there’s typically only one user per unit - and you can see how this effects buying habits; despite selling for double the price, and having a significantly smaller user base, Switch software at the end of 2017 exceeded 3DS’s software sales at the end of 2011 in Japan; and that’s not counting the very likely higher digital purchases as well (which numbers we can only really imagine at this point).

This higher software tie-in number is typical of home consoles (with multiple users) - as are the software and console hardware price points. This is why the Switch can’t be considered a successor to the 3DS, it’s a different market.

In other words: the hybrid market the Switch occupies looks much closer to the home console segment in spending habits than the handheld segment.

Technically not entirely accurate as it's a hybrid so a successor to both Wii U and 3DS, I'd argue that right now spending habits are similar to home consoles because the Wii U is defunct while 3DS is still around having a smooth phase out period so a higher ratio of consumers who have an interest in home console gaming are likely purchasing now later on I can see this changing when the 3DS is no longer active and the mass portable migration begins and I'm willing to bet that will begin when Pokemon is nearing.

Their President's statement about having Switch around for longer than usual also indicates this possible approach as they can market the Switch as a platform of home console standing but at the same time handle it like a portable which is the more consistent and stable market.