Like all F2P games.

Hardly. There's nothing inherently wrong with the core Nintendo network, it works well enough (and is free), but there's also very little you could praise it for. For a company people love to proclaim as "innovators" it's almost embarrassing how far behind Sony and MS they are in regards to online features, let alone introducing new ones. It's that complete lack of functionality that they're criticized for.

Their online is certainly not "crap" like some suggest, but it's a long way from meeting modern standards (barley even 7th gen standards).

But don't you actually have to pay to play some of those?  *clears throat*

Fuck trophies. Glad one console maker doesn't have that bullshit.

It works so nothing is wrong with it plus free. They are the only ones doing it right.

So we're missing

-cloud support(transfer of saves and games when logging in from multiple places)
-online communication features (text and voice chat)
-subpar matchmaking system for online multiplayer games(people from america being matched with people from Japan)

Those are the ones I think are important to fix. Things like achievements just don't excite me in the slightest. I think a lot of people are actually happy that Nintendo doesn't implement that.

Although I don't see Nintendo giving us online communications ability.

Nope, that's just the idiots who have no control over their wallets and inferiority complexes.

For example, I played Hearthstone this year. Great game, didn't pay a single cent.

There's nothing wrong with it. In fact my favourite online game this year was Mario Kart 8. I wish paying for online services guaranteed fun, but it doesn't.

Nintendo does the right thing: THESE feature ALL BELONG to the GAMES.

Party Chat: who needs that in a world  where everybody has at least a telephone and/or instant messenger?  

Who on earth needs to login from multiple places?

But having a save files BACK UP on NIntendo servers tied to the Nintendo ID would be of great benefit in case the console has gone beyond repair..

Matchmaking depends on Game. Have played countless hours MK8 and the more "demanding" Wii Sports Club online and didn't find any strange issues. It is better to get a opponent from far away than having none to play....

Don't forget the features the others simply don't have: MiiVerse and hand drawn PICTURE communication !

These alone far out weight anything the others have to offer.