Nintendo is a video game company that's it. they are not Sony or Microsoft where they have groups that they sell media. I am glad they are not following the trend, everyone has a dvd player already i dont want another one. It works out cheaper if they dont add these kinds of features.

having a dvd player in a video game console is an outdated idea anyway, it was cool when the ps2 did it but now i dont give a rats ass about that feature.. 

eh who even uses dvd r blu ray? We stream everything at my house now so no bother hear. I would rather save the little bit of money. I hate paying for features I will never use.

I think anything that allows Nintendo to price their next console as the cheapest console for the next 5 years is a good thing. Btw, the people that bought a PS2, but never bought a DVD player, were extremely rare. I think if you want a quality device you buy a stand alone player, and this is before we even address the numbers of people now who just download everything.

Meh my laptop and two ps3s have blu-ray; not that I use it. Blu ray players are very cheap now too. If it's going to let Nintendo use the money spent on fees for these features to be enabled, to be spent elsewhere I think it's actually preferable. Remember Nintendo isn't company focused on gaining the living room. Their consoles are only mediums to sell games that's it. Sony and Microsoft want control of the living room, and that is why they focus more on features.

I guess it goes something like:

A: These are unnecessary features that just adds cost to both Nintendo and consumers. Not including them is a good decision.

B: Nintendo says they want the Wii U to be on 24/7, if so, they need to include multimedia features. Not including them is bad decision.

I don't really care, I have several devices that can play DVDs and 2 for BR. I doubt many sales will be lost.

1. I already have so many things that can play dvds , that this loss is not felt. I also already have a ps3 for blu ray.

2. This probably helps cut costs so I am completely for it.

3. It will probably have Netflix which will be more than satisfactory.

They aren't doing it to be cheap. They are doing it because everyone on earth by now has a standalone DVD/Blu-Ray player. Why put somthing into your console that nobody will use? Nintendo initially planned to put a DVD player into the Wii, but decided against it for the same reason, saturation. How is that cheap? 

Oh I forgot, they have to pay royalties to Sony. Why fund your biggest competitor?

blue-ray is a pretty stupid feature anyway. Streaming video takes care of the loss. xbox 360 doesn't have blue-ray and it is the leading console in NA right now. Like someone mentioned before, it is a terrible idea to watch DVD and blue-ray on your home console. Dedicated blue-ray players are so much cheaper, why risk an early demise of your Wii U hardware by watching a blue-ray?

This. The Wii did fine without this feature.