Well I usually don't but when Pokemon comes out I spend along time on it. When Diamond and Pearl came out I played 10-hours in a day. But then again I was younger these days my attention span lasts like two hours though I'm sure when Pokemon 3DS comes out in a year or two I will play the shit out of it.

Sounds good to me...

WiFi won't be on, when away from home. On the DS, I use the second lowest brightness, I doubt any higher will be needed on the 3DS either. Headphones, so the sound doesn't need to be all the way up. 3D will probably be always on, though but turning off the other stuff or keeping it low should help it last. About 5 or so hours seems resonable.

At home, it'll be always pluged in (like I do with my DS). Problem solved!

Well, did you play 10 hours out of the house or in your house near a power socket? My guess would be the latter. Just connect it with the socket and you can play as long as you want.

Most of the people complaining don't even play regularly for more than 3-5 hours outside without access to a power socket.

Yah actually true I was playing indoors and everywhere I went. I never really turned it off I went from the mall home, to the store and such. I brought that thing everywhere. I even played it during my break at work. Also with the power cradle you can't really play while it charges. Of course you can use a DSi cord but not everyone will have one of those.

My biggest concern is I have a flight to Thailand in May and it is 16 hours long. I want to play my 3DS alot of the way but at 3-5 hour battery life I won't be able to. So instead I might just bring my DS:Lite.

I think you don't have to charge it in the cradle. The power adapter will most likely plug into the cradle, but also directly into the 3DS. That's how it works for my cell phone.

A 16 hour flight surely is long, but if you can get 5 hours out of your 3DS that should be enough. (The first and last 30 minutes you can't do anything, then you have to factor in about 3 hours for lunch, diner, breakfast, toilet breaks, etc. Sleep 3 or 4 hours and watch a movie for 2 hours and we're at about 11 hours. The rest 5 hours you can play 3DS. Isn't that a nice plan? ;P And if you're worried you can always bring a 3DS AND a DS lite. Depending on the airline you might also be able to charge your handhelds inside the plane.)

I also took my DS on my flight to Japan (about 20 hours via U.A.E.), but didn't have a chance to play. :) There were too many movies available.

Did anyone expect any different?