So if they not go who will win E3 and what about all those threads that we will miss?

I've come to the conclusion that the Nintendo haters (aka, Nintendo's biggest fans) are the only one upset by this. They need the stage, they need the "console war" BS. They need that "Christmas feeling" or whatever. Anyone who really cares about GAMES doesn't give a shit about this. You would literally have to be going out of your way at this point to not understand that nothing has really changed and that Nintendo's presence in and around E3 will still be totally awesome.

Or, you know...GAMES! Who needs this WWE nonsense with it really?

No, their is absolutely no need for Nintendo to have a big show at E3, the only ones who think that it is a big deal are Nintendo haters trying to throw another punch at Nintendo, that's it. Nintendo directs are a much bigger deal nowadays, and if they continue to announce the big games during Nintendo directs, it will only get bigger.

E3 has status. It isn't strictly necessary, but it is probably the time of year where more people than at any other time are looking at gaming news. So whoever has something they want to show has a lot to gain from it.

Could someone please explain to me the overwhelming exposure they'll get from attending E3 vs having a ND? A continuing saga of ND, which will grow in viewership as more and more RARE installations surface vs an annual event which will water down Nintendo exposure. A tactic that one can trully claim to be an innovative direction Nintendo is taking.  Innovative and daring move on their part.  A move that harkens to rapport the likes that Kevin Butler had once garnered. 

Investors seems to me to be the biggest reason to go to E3, is that the case?  It seems to me that getting investors to reinvigorate isn't such a hard thing to accomplish.  The hard part would be sales, which Nintendo has not been doing well on the Wii U front.  But nonetheless, that doesn't seem to be a concern since they aren't doing a traditional E3 conference.  It really is farfetch to say that investors are the main concern to a company who is currently not in debt. 

As for the questionaire, to further eskew numbers, the 2 of 16 could have easily been 3 out of 40, as my occupation employs over 200 people.  And to that, the two i did ask had no more knowledge than the basic of something they described as a "video game thingy".  So really, moot point.

Yeah, I want E3 to remain as Christmas, too.

er, that's what I meant by the consoles, the console offerings.

Its not the 90's anymore. What next? Nintendo needs that Electronic Gaming Monthly cover story in order for anyone to know about their game? How about a cereal box?

A console is only as strong as its games. So, if M$ and Sony only talk about their new consoles  at E3 and no actual games, you'd be okay with that?