No way. For what you'd pay to buy just a PS4 or kinectless Xbox One, you can pick up a MK8 bundle (which includes a 2nd controller) along with 2 major retail games.

That's value.

Wii U doesn't contain an accessory that is unnecessary.

Gampad is the reason the menu system/browser/eShop/Miiverse/etc works well and is intriguing. Its also pivotal in multiple games from creating intense atmosphere in ZombiU to offTV play in general and quality secondary features in games like Pikmin3.

If Nintendo chose to remove gamepad, then their better option would be to release an entirely different console.

Same cannot be said about Kinect. Everyone I know doesn't even use the features beyond Xbox On or Xbox Off. Nothing else about it works very well most of the time and nearly all games do not use it for any form of feature, primary or secondary. Its largely a useless accessory that drove up costs.

Nintendo's issue has never been the gamepad. Its always been its identity, games, and specifically lack of a "wii sports" type of title that easily shows why a person should buy the console. Hopefully that game is coming at E3. So Nintendo's focus on smart bundling as shown with MK8 is their smart choice.

MS's issue isn't games. It has primarily the same games as PS4. Its always been price and overcoming the negative press surrounding launch, hardware power, etc. Removing a largely useless product to that of an add-on one can buy if they want, makes A LOT of sense for them as now they can be equal on price too.

So the real answer to your poll is "Both".

Glad I'm not the only one see it as such.

Perceived value is subjective though and the vast majority of the consumers seem to be in disagreement with you, as can be seen on the weeky charts. Smartphones easily sell at 400-600$, that's the wonder of perceived value; it's not about the actual price tag.

Ofcourse MS, but Kinect was supposed to be extremely important to the X1. So much of the X1 launch focused on it and its functions and capabilities. By not bundling it, the device will probably not sell too well on its own.

Nintendo are at least going to try and lure the casuals back in. At E3 Iwata says they will be showcasing games that are focused on the gamepad. If they succeed, then Nintendo have made the correct decision to push the gamepad instead of just drop it.

Nintendo have been stubborn which was the right thing to do. The hardware is not making a loss anymore, and Wii U loses none of its features. Now they can concentrate on making compelling software to boost system sales, the gamer wins by having great games and the added bonus of the superb gamepad. More importantly, Nintendo are making profits as well, win win in my eyes.

All three really are honing in on roughly a similar value proposition for a given price range.

WiiU's value proposition is hurt by ugly press and the fact that the kind of consumers who'd buy a WiiU probably don't know it exists. The perception can be changed and relative value proposition increased--even while price remains constant. I'm pretty certain the stage is set for exactly that perception change to start now :)

Nintendo. They're not splitting the market. Being weaker consoles, one thing Microsoft and Nintendo has going for them is that they had accessories that came with every consoles. Knowing that every user has the accessory, it'd give third party developers incentive to develop multiconsole games with unique ways to play only on that console or make an exclusive game that benefits from the use of that accessory. Neither the Kinect or WIi U has really had one of those yet, but didn't or doesn't mean it still couldn't happen.  It could still happen for Nintendo atleast.

Kinect Sports Rivals? Fantasia? Fru?