This thread was completely pointless.

I will tell you ignore the 3DS at all costs.  The start and select buttons don't work properly, the opening lid goes over the L and R buttons a bit, and if you're like me and like to have your index fingers rest on the L and R it's an extreme annoyance. 

The 3DS XL fixes these problems.  The start and the select are changed and easy to press.  The screen when opening up has a extra hinge that makes it forward a bit more so the screen itself is not in the way of the L and R buttons at all.

First off, if you don't own a DS, then the 3DS is worth it for that right here.  While backwards compatibility will show a very noticeable degredation in quality if you leave it full screen, you should be able to get used to it, or you can reduce the size to 40% small, basically the size of the regular 3DS screen(on an XL, 40% smaller if played on a 3DS or 2DS,) and get the full DS resolution with no noticeable graphics degredation.   The reason why is the 3DS doesn't upscale since the screen resolution is not the same as the DS.

There are also a good amount of 3DS games out right now that are really good in my opinion. 

I've only played the demo so far since the game isn't out yet, but before today I was going to wait on picking up Bravely Default.  After putting two hours into the demo, I've since preordered the game and will get it day one.  The games quality is amazing.  Graphically it's not that great, but the gameplay is very good. 

Shin Megami Tensei 4, Fire Emblem Awakening, Super Mario 3D Land, Tales of the Abyss, Shinobi 3DS, and Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate are very good games and the best on the system in my opinion.  Not quite as good, but still good games, Etrian Odyssey, Devil Summoner Soul Hackers, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.

I'd also recommend not getting a 2DS, not only because the screen size of the XL does make a difference, but also you're missing out on the 3D.  If you haven't used the 3D effect before on a game that does it well, or haven't used the 3D effect at all, then you might brush it off as a poor feature that you have no interest in, but it's actually an amazing feature once you get a game that uses it well.  I had no interest in the feature until playing Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate, and the games 3D is amazing.  The amount of detail of the 3D in that game, everything is on its own layer and has its own depth.  Aside from the underwater parts which I recommend do not use the 3D at all during those parts, I played through the game a second time immediately after finishing it and left the 3D pretty much the entire game. 

Though it is recommended to take breaks if you're using the 3D because it does give you eye strain if played for long periods of  time with the 3D on.  Nothing permanent, but bothersome for a little while afterwards.

I like having a 3DS... but I honestly barely use it.

The 3DS just doesn't cater to my personal taste, but I do enjoy playing Nintendo games in small doses. I'm going to buy Smash Bros.

The Vita appeals to me more, but library of interesting exclusives is too small.

I am going to post one last response and then I am done with this thread and I recommend this to everyone else as well. The 3DS DOES NOT have console quality games for 2014 that is the bottom line and that is what I want. The 3DS is not getting one of my favorite games of 2012-13 (Terraria) or Minecraft.

The 3DS Zelda-s probably are better games than KZ but that does not mean the Zelda-s are not overpriced

PSVita has plenty of great Indies and I would rather have Indies than overpriced retail.

Does this make the 3DS a bad handheld? No, does it make it a bad console for me? Yes.

Metrium obviously does not get it at all. It is nothing to do with the graphics. Quite a few of my favorite games as of late have been 16-bit but they price theirself accordingly 3DS games are not priced accordingly. I can buy stuff from 2005 on my PSVita that cost 5$ with the same or higher quality that anything on 3DS. I need to buy Patapon on my Vita =)

Honestly if I didn't travel A LOT, I would say my Vita, and any handheld gaming device; was also a waste.  If you have a console or PC, then that is usually more fun to play at home.  Also, any ok laptop (Intel HD 4000 and up) is better for when you are on the go.

I mean think about it.  Do you know what is better than the 3DS/Vita line up?  The entire catalog of PC games.  If you have any laptop made in the past 2 years you are good to run anything up to Skyrim/Fallout 3 at playable settings.

AND if you are just bored for a couple minutes, pull out a smart phone and google something or go on Cracked.com.  Seriously dedicated handheld gaming is pretty much pointless.