If it wasn't for him. Nintendo would've dropped out this generation

They are a visionary. A splendid businessman.

Far from it. Although Nintendo wasn't doing hot sales wise, they were still making a good buck. 

OT: He definitely made changes for the better. 

The company has changed, but it may not have been Iwata's doing. In Japan, the one with the power may not always be the most obvious choice. Some may play lip service to the "head," but they will interpret it differently and do what the one with real power wants. This is seen in Japanese households. The wife pays the husband a lot of lip service and caters to him, but she has the real stanglehold on the household. Sometimes the senior will have the power. Yamauchi may have the real power, even if the board of directors and everyone else pays Iwata lip service.

Of course, Iwata may still have control, but it is possible he may not (despite that, in the west, the CEO has most of the power).

Iwata is actually an incarnation of Miyamoto.