I hope this true

wouldn't see this as a surprise

Even the DS (not the 3D one) had the potential to do this. The problem is the frame rate is not even close enough to what it should be for active shutter glasses. Add in the fact passive glasses are taking over the market and this "feature" becomes even more pointless.

^How do you know the frame rate isn't close enough?

should have been glass free 3D like the 3DS

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The screen is at max capable of 120 fps unless Nintendo is losing a lot of money on each controller. For good 3D you need at least 240 or passive.

^Do you have any links? Are you saying it isnt capable of 3D?

Is this the reason the gamepad is so expensive? If true, why wouldn't they have mentioned this a year ago?

That sounds like quite a technical challenge to me. How to synchronise the WiiU pad screen with the tv screen to switch images at exactly the same time. The glasses would be synched to the tv, so the tv has to tell the WiiU the exact timing for the pad to follow.
It used to be easier before digital display lag.