i dont know.... a format-less console would ve been a even bigger disaster...

i wouldn't have bought it lol. Still hate disc storage

if they had disc they prob would have had FF series that really helped set off the ps1. taking away some of the thunder from ps1, plus ps1 games were cheaper since they were on disc.

Then there would be a successful cartridge expansion instead of a CD one. Maybe.

Then it probably would withstand having TV dropped on it, being kicked, thrown, etc.

It would likely have gotten a lot more support, it was a truly awkward format and a stupid choice.

NINTENSTORM!

However N64 was a far better experience then the PS1 so Nintendo did the right thing.

No, it's still pretty much the most arrogant and worst decision Nintendo's ever made. 

A cartridge slot doesn't cost anything (major) ... they could have very easily still have kept the cartridge slot for certain games and let 2nd/3rd parties work on CD games if they wanted. 

The Sega Saturn had both a cartridge and CD slot, barely any devs used the cart slot though. King of Fighters 95 on Saturn came on a cartridge for faster loading times:

It's hard to say, really.

Remember, at that time, many third-parties WANTED Sony to succeed. Nintendo's near monopoly had them dictating unfavorable terms and conditions to publishers and developers and many were very unhappy with the situation. It's not as clear-cut as everyone siding with Nintendo automatically.

Nintendo didn't have a near monopoly by the mid-1990s ... Sega was getting ports of most third party games. 

Even if games like Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 1/2/3 etc. were multi-plat ... Nintendo would've dominated that gen IMO. They had the more powerful system, the most hype, the best exclusives, they just had no third party support which caused huge droughts for the system and basically forced even N64 owners to have to buy a Playstation as well.