It's a dying breed and has been since the Saturn/N64/PSOne days. RPGs have been trying to be 3D since day one, they just haven't had the horsepower to pull it off until the 3D consoles came about. Games like Chrono Trigger were trying to be 3D with 2D sprites. If you think about it, the only real difference between them were the sprites. I too miss 2D games and love my DS for championing them. The XBLA and PSN services have many 2D offerings and I'm sure WiiWare will also once it's been out for a while. I suggest you look towards what games are still in 2D and make sure you're supporting them. Series like Contra, Castlevania, DS Mario, Odin Sphere, GrimGrimoire, Disgaea, Guilty Gear and Viewtiful Joe are all supporting either 2D enviornments, 2D sprites or both.

flashy graphics can be used to cover up a very shallow gaming experience.

 Shallow gaming experiences existed in the 2D era much more than they do now. 

And they weren't covered up very well. :)

Because 3D sells, giving the sensation of a step foward sells, thats why we have flashy 3D graphics...

Well thats the idea... now, we now that not every flashy 3D game sells a lot, but now is part of the business... is in the mind of the buyers...

The same reason why special effects in movies keep getting better, and in order to give the perception of reality, they need to.

When motion pictures first came out, all they filmed was the ocean crashing in on a beach. They would display that in the theaters to show what motion pictures were all about. Remember, these were the first movies ever. they were black and white, no sound, and displayed on a hand crank (so the timing sucked).

When it first aired, the people in the first row of the theater jumped back, because they thought they were going to get wet.

It then took a little better the next time to trick people... and then a little better... and so on...

There are a lot of people who fine the improved graphics add immersion. But once you have seen the current crop, you need more to get you there.

@ Smidlee
Yeah i misunderstood the what he meant, cuz i just read it quickly.

So i wouldn't have to agree... 2D is dead if it's on a home console

People no-longer treat 2D games with respect. I would like it if they made a 2Dside-scroller with 3D characteristics. Kind of like New Super Mario Bros, only for the Wii. That's probably why I enjoyed the SSE in SSBB so much...

Simply put, I like very good looking things, weather it be cars, furniture, or woman, graphics is just one of them.

So you mean, why no 2D games.