Of course handheld is better, didn't say it because it is obvious :P

The general public can be seen as very irrational and stupid honestly.

It's definitely more acceptable now, as folk have said thanks to smartphones. When I got my first DS and played it on the bus I got weird looks from people even my own age, but just about anyone with an iphone these days will play angry birds or something. Yaaay inclusion.

I don't see anything wrong with it but I'll never do it though.

I have friends who don't buy consoles because they say they don't wanna commit.

But they play Facebook games ALL DAY. I get their spams from their farmville, avengers, sim city etc. They play more than me.

I only game once or twice a week. Sometimes less only once a month. Sometimes 4-5 times a week if theres a new release I really like. But it seems like they play EVERYDAY.

In the US, it's mostly considered acceptable. DS's targeting of the elderly really helped with that, I think, and now smartphones are finishing the job.

When you play on the phone, it's casual games. So, it's acceptable.
The public gives you funny look when you play serious.