Don't have a Wii U yet but honestly I've always like Nintendo for their games and the fact their mentality is "we don't care about what Microsoft and Sony are doing".

Hardware really doesn't matter to me, the games do. Honestly I would probably be more inclined to get a WiiU if there wasn't a tablet controller as I just see that being an excuse for gimmicky gameplay mechanics. But like I said I don't have one so maybe i'm completely wrong.

I would have, because I just like Nintendo games.
The gamepad is a big deal for me though, because I like its functionality.

For real, I think the word "gimmick" is thrown around too much. Playing video games is about having fun.  A lot of the time, what people are calling "gimmicks" contribute to a person having fun.  The Wii U gamepad definitely changes how you play a game, while at the same time can keep it simple and the same.  

So in my opinion, even if it is a "gimmick," it shouldn't be used as a reason to attack the Wii U.  

Sure, not owning Nintendo hw its a crime in my religion

Yeah I understand and I wasn't attacking the Wii U or anything :p

But I use the word gimick because when I have to do something using a new hardware feature that I could just have easily done with the press of a button, it feels extremely forced. I think it all comes down to feeling natural. Like, if they made a new Pokemon Snap game (please God!) and you used the tablet or 3DS to actually move around the camera I think that would feel very natural and would be a great way to experience that game.

But like I said I don't have a Wii U but i've been burned by other such features and touchscreens always feel more annoying to use than a standard controller. Especially for gaming.  I'll eventually get one and hopefully i'll be pleasantly surprised.

Oh, I was saying in general that I've been seeing the word "gimmick" used as an attacking word for gaming consoles.  I hear it a lot about the 3DS, that 3D is a gimmick.  I find it weird people say that's why they don't buy one, because it makes no sense to think that the only thing the 3DS is good for is 3D.  Anyway, so far with the Wii U I haven't felt forced to use the gamepad.  NintendoLand is pretty fun, in my opinion.

Hm... maybe. But I primarily bought it for the awesome games to come and also the prospect of some Rpg menu management (Drag and drop armor, how cool would that be.) Also, drag and drop crafting.

Nintendo games. You simply can't get games like this ANYWHERE else. For better or worse, they are special.

"Better".  It's a question of how you define the word, I suppose.  GameCube had more horsepower than PS2 but it fared far worse.  Wii had far less horsepower than PS3/360 and it did much better.  Horsepower typically has nothing to do with a console's sales, historically speaking.  It's essentially a meaningless way to measure things, by their horsepower.

This topic is irrelevant.

The gamepad is the result of the whole product development and marketing strategy. It makes no sense to ponder the product without its marketing strategy. Its a completely different product aimed at a completely different consumer.
You're asking me to compare coca-cola with coca-cola sour. One would be aimed at drinkers that like sweet drinks and the other one at consumers who like sour drinks. Completely different product. You would only find a crossing segment on the drinkers that like all types of coca-cola. Thats basically the feedback you will find here.