Not quite the answer you are looking for a fake reason why someone thought something would not succeed but I can give a real reason NES almost didn't. Teddy Ruxpin. For those not aware Teddy Ruxpin in the mid-80s was the most popular toy in the US. You put tapes in his back and his mouth would move and talk from the tape. It was kinda neat. Well in that time period SEARS was the largest American retailer. They refused to sell NES systems. The video game crash made them feel there is no use in selling a video game console. Teddy Ruxpin threatened to pull their product if SEARS did not sell the NES.
EVERY 80s kid looked forward to the SEARS catalog every year to point out to their parents what they wanted Santa to bring them.
As for silly comments. I do remember people online calling DS, the Virtual Boy 2 as the concept of 2 screens threw people off before it was shown off at E3 2004.
Bite my shiny metal cockpit!
