Yep. Its odd too as WiiU, at creation of NNID asks if you want to use an existing ID or a new one. So its clearly in the works, just not there yet. I'd imagine you'll eventually have same ID on all Nintendo hardware, but of course not digital content shared across it all. Nintendo may never do that, though I think they should with VC titles at least.

There really isn't any "logging in" to speak of on 3DS. Wii U can have multiple accounts, but to my knowledge 3DS does not.

Yeah, I love my 3DS, but for the experience you want, it's a pain. Nintendo is still "learning". Sorry, but it is going to suck.

One thing is for sure, the bolded is not possible and will not be any time soon. But I don't see why you would want that, it's not like a home console where the alternative is bringing the entire system with you. Yes, you'd have to bring the whole 3DS with you, but that's what it's designed for.

buy it if you like Pokemon

Only complaint is that it takes about a hour or so. Mainly depends on how many games you bought (transfer/redownload). I have over 50 VC games and about 10 WiiWare games. If anyone has a right to bitch it would be me. Took some time but at least I could transfer (unlike PS3-PS4 until they work out what they are going to do).

Mostly for sharing downloaded games with very close people. I.e. : my brother.

Often I buy a PS3 game, he's like 'hey login with your account on my PS3 and download it for me to try it please?". And vice-versa. So we can play multiplayer, etc, don't have to buy it twice - according to Sony's terms we can download each game on two systems (until said systems are deactivated due to breaking etc).

But that's indeed not a feature I'd not buy the system for, it's just a nice to have (see, on the PS Vita I can't have more than 1 account logged/registered unless I swap memory cards/format stuff, which is a pain and it doesn't bother me).

However, I wanted to be sure my content is safe. For example, if I let my PS Vita slip off my hands and it drowns in a swimming pool, I know I can simply go to Sony's site, deactivate the bricked Vita, buy a new one and simply activate my account on it and download all my stuff again (including saves from the cloud).

I need to know if there's anything like this for the Nintendo digital content or else I'm better not go digital with Nintendo just yet.

Had no issues at all transferring from wii->wiiU and i had about 50+ VC games and like 12 wiiware.. what were the complaints? not working or am i missing something?

Nintendo's system is not so simple and streamlined, but I believe there is a process in place for recovering digital games. I'm not positive, though, so until you're sure, you may want to either stick to retail or avoid swimming pools. :P

Oh yeah, and even if you could recover your games on a new system, your save data would be gone. So there's that to consider.

Nintendo is still figuring all of this out, so I think they'll be improving their infrastructure gradually over the next few years. I'm confident that these functions will be there eventually, but they aren't all there now. If you want to wait, don't be afraid to ask again in a year, as the situation could be quite different by then.

Some games alow for 'download play' so you can play with a buddy with only 1 cart / digital download. but you need 2 systems.
so for that exact purpose you described no, it wont work. unless you just loan him your 3DS for a day or 2 for him to try it out. thats the great thing about handhelds. They arn't stuck to a TV ;)