This is the third time this year I thought something was a joke and lol'ed, but then found out it was real.

1st was Wii Fit Trainer in Super Smash, 2nd was Affleck as Batman.

LOL! Weren't for South Park, the 2nd would make me cry, but thanks to it it's the most amusing! 2DS OTOH keeps on looking outlandish to me...

Yes, it's mainly a naming and public perception problem, I know 3DS is different, but as they put "3D" in its name, it was like declaring 3D is its main and distinctive feature, then that "3" read separated from "DS" makes it look also as it is a 3rd evolution, DS being the first and DSi the 2nd (as it is BC, but it also has its own games not compatible with DS), so stripping the 3D away and putting a 2 instead of a 3 in the name, makes it look as if they went back to the previous version for two reasons, not just one.
As that "3" in the name can be read both as 3rd DS and 3D DS, finding a name for a 2D version of it while at the same time making it clear it's still the latest gen console and not a previous gen one is probably a problem without a satisfying solution.

I still disagree with your initial claim that dual analog is required for 3D navigation. Hell, you used Persona 4 Golden as an example of 3D navigation on Vita, yet Shin Megami Tensei IV has practically the same kind of gameplay on 3DS. It sacrifices nothing.

We also have Ocarina of Time on 3DS, one of the games that defined navigation in a 3D world when it was first released, working as well as it ever did without any touch screen support.

In addition to those, we have Monster Hunter, Kingdom Hearts 3D, Resident Evil, Snake Eater 3D, LEGO games... and those are just from third parties. Most of those support the Circle Pad Pro, but none of them require it. Now seeing how we got NEW Monster Hunter, NEW Resident Evil, NEW Kingdom Hearts, etc designed FOR the 3DS, with fully 3D environments and full 3D navigation, tell me again that the lack of dual analog controls discourages developers from making new 3D titles for the console.

I dunno, maybe you think Etrian Odyssey or Fire Emblem would suddenly become free-roaming 3D games if their developers had a built-in second circle pad to work with, but I doubt it. Clearly, the lack of dual analog controls aren't scaring away developers with 3D games in mind. And I don't know just what kind of free-roaming 3D games you would expect; Bethesda isn't putting TES on a handheld console any time soon, regardless of how many of anything it has. The Vita is getting the same 2D Arkham Origins spinoff the 3DS is getting. If Rockstar wanted to make a GTA game on either handheld, they would do it, as they did with Chinatown Wars.

Does it matter? It's been proven by competent developers that the 3DS can absolutely be used to make and play 3D games.

And I'm curious to know just what games you found the touchscreen to be "unprecise and unresponsive" in.

Those other games use a reset camera button wich you constantly spam. That isnt exactly confortable or in any way ideal.

But dont get me wrong. I am saying if it did have, more 3D game experiences would be coming to the 3DS. At the moment the controls dont permit it. Another good example would be how MGS3D turned out. Also not confortable or very playable at all without the second analog nub.

I'm actually finding it amazing that you guys are defending that there is no need for a second analog stick. If that was the case, why did Nintendo feel the need to make the Circle pad pro?

The 3DS/2DS successor will be dual analog.

Nintendo always does this ... GBA = 2 face buttons only, DS = added the X/Y buttons but no analog stick, 3DS = adds the analog slider, but no second analog.

Next handheld will probably have a similar button layout to the Wii U pad.

?

It still doesn't explain why they got rid of a cheap peripheral (speaker) if there's no real reason to get rid of it.

I suspect it's design cost and device size (including shipping).

You don't get rid of something just to get rid of it if the cost is negligeable.

Yea I do too, I actually still don't own a 3DS, I held off for a redesign because I didn't like how crappy the battery life was in the original (3-5 hours), nor how the screens touch when you close it. I guess 3DS XL really isn't that bad though, 3.5-6.5 hours on 3DS mode, and 6-10 on DS mode. I'm just tired of waiting for something that might not happen. I waited and now I can at least get a solid black 3DS XL

I hear you about the battery though, I have an original fat DS model which had 6-10 hours of battery. Now I get about 3-5 hours 7 years later. So I expect my future 3DS XL to be as weak as 2-4 hour battery life when it's old.

You do when you want to stress that this is the LOW end option, not just lacking 2D, it lacks stereo speakers, clam shell design, 2D, its more cheapily built, smaller screen and less likely to be broken in half by someone who should not use 3D (under 7yo), it also simply increases the profit margin for them since I bet these have a higher profit margin than either model of the 3DS itself.

After a tad longer I actually like it. Its certainly growing on me.

Looks great in white.