Dropping the gamepad is stupid, it wont achieve anything now. Should have been done well before launch and then they would have had a chance to move consoles this gen.

I doubt it. Most people (EDIT: The casual crowd this gen) don't see the appeal on a Wii U, this is backed up by the majority of sales and recent buzz being around the PS4's continuing domination and the XB1's recent spike in sales.

It will take more than a redesign that boost sales. Frankly, i don't know really know what it will take. It has the games (high quality exclusives), but by cutting off a shit ton of support from the third parties, they are making it into a complementary console to the PS4 or XB1.

I'm assuming you have put in quite a bit of time playing the WiiU. Tell me honestly what game benefit from the gamepad. 

Problem with gamepad:

1. Too big and clumsy button layout that have to work around the screen.
2. Battery life is horrendously bad. Reliance on charging craddle and cables. Thing need to charge every 2 hours. 
3. Screen quality is bad especially when compare to Vita or Ipad. 
4. Doesn't add much to gameplay and experience.
5. Costly   

Wiiu Controller Pro compared to gamepad:

Pros:

Smaller, amazing 80 hours battery life, ergonomic feel, cheaper than gamepad.

Cons:

Lack screen and touch screen.

It's going to need a lot more than that if the system's going to sell better.

Japan nov17-23 hardware sales:

New 3DS LL: 42,184 [UP] 3,727
New 3DS: 26,791 [UP] 13,418
PS4: 12,430 [DOWN] 3,107
3DS LL: 11,534 [UP] 2,362
Vita: 10,236 [DOWN] 9,065
Wii U: 9,615 [DOWN] 4,387
3DS: 8,144 [UP] 3,945
PS3: 4,324 [DOWN] 387
Xbox One: 776 [DOWN] 1,469

Once the NEW 3ds and NEW WiiU it market you can slowly discountinue older model. 

You do realize that Japan is about handhelds and really, only about handhelds right? The only thing that ever really sells in Japan are handhelds, even the Vita is selling in Japan compared the rest of the world where its selling like shit... Of course the n3ds is going to sell well in Japan, specially with games like MH4 and Pokemon and MH only sells freakishly well in Japan and no where else.. Japan is not a good indicator of how the rest of the world views things

Nintendo designed one of the worst consoles of this gen. From the internals to the externals. Yes, it is fun. But down to the fundamentals... it's a piece of design deprived garbage. The power brick, the forced use of the underutilized GamePad, the toy look, Nintendo knows better than that. All that aside, it's my favorite console of this gen but Nintendo needs to step it up. I remember a Nintendo that cared what casuals and hard core gamers thought about them. I know it, in essence, it doesn't really matter but it sure doesn't hurt.

What do you think will happen when the New 3ds release in North America??? There will be a huge sales spike for New 3ds on release and new 3ds will immediatly replace the older version has new top selling skew. You actually think that the older model will outsell the New 3ds once it comes to north america? 

Redesign the gamepad, with a smaller screen (3DSXL upper screen sized).
With a smaller screen, the dpi increases, and the images will look better.
Make it looks more like a controller with a screen than a big strange indefined think (no one nows is if a controler or a tablet or both or none...).
Make it cheaper and with more battery life(smaller screen can help there).
Implement the second gamepad funcionality, and sell it separly.
But also, sell the "new wii U" with the redesigned gamepad, and a 500 Gb hard drive. 250$, with no game. Just a new digital promotion again, exclusive to the new model.

Thats enough.

Wii u has basically reached its limit and I doubt anyone would care for a redisigned console....nintendo really drop ed the ball this gen, will have to take being in last place for a long time....