They said they didn't show the console for the longest time in fear of others copying some supa dupa NX feature.

What was it?

Dedicated gaming console that acts like real handheld and like real home console,!?

I heard the gasps of despair from Sony and Micosoft at the reveal. Now that they couldn't steal the idea for their own consoles they're pretty much doomed.

That makes me wonder. If they were to copy it, how would they do that? Nintendo made the Switch from the ground up with that idea in mind, but the PS4 and XBOne are, first and foremost, home consoles. How do you change the hardware to allow a PS4/XBOne handheld? Not to mention all the problems that would follow after (cartridges, battery life, screen resolution, fighting for the handheld market while it's shrinking...).

Not sure yet. Maybe they will announce it on January 12th?

I hope it is 4G + Text and Call support on a gaming device. That has been impossible so far, so maybe they figured out how to do it, and they don't want Sony and MS to reverse engineer that tech for their own mobile gaming devices.

Beyond that I havn't got a clue. I mean I like the idea behind the Switch, and think it will be amazing if it has 4G. But, I can't see anything in the trailer that gives me any idea what might be so evolutionary that they wanted to keep it from the competition all this time.

There is always the chance, and it is a very big possability, that they said this for hype and marketing. All I know right now, is I am excited about Nintendo for the first time in over a decade, and I really hope they don't let me down on Jan 12th.

LOL

Maybe their precocious notion they are uniquely special, immune to comparison?
Maybe their extra coy attitude toward revealing actual technical specs?

The only substance behind such a statement is to somehow plant the idea that they are special and outstanding and people are lining up to copy them.
That's it. I mean, otherwise, are they saying there otherwise would be objective reasons for releasing concept earlier than now, EXCEPT people would steal the idea?
That's ridiculous. Releasing the concept earlier would just hurt sales of their current product more. What is the benefit of releasing the concept earlier? None.

If anybody wanted to do so, it's not really that hard.  The hardware is basically just NVIDIA's Shield platform with Morpheus style controllers.
NVIDIA in fact is involved in the OS/API side of things too.  All you have to do is do the same licence with NVIDIA and slap your name on it.

Yeah........... Maybe its just some PR or and excuse for the delay/short promotions before it releases?

The VITA already supported mobile network internet, by offering a 3g model. So that wouldn't that be another feature Nintendo copies from the Vita. Besides the whole homeconsole games on the go idea. Anyway the detachable controllers is the secret sauce of the NS, that's why it is constantly shown in ghe trailer and the NS icon animation.

It is easy for Sony and Microsoft to go mobile with PS4 and XBO. They are already building the path to scalable hardware and games, and the hardware is already based on mobile tech. Microsoft is already scaling games across multiple platforms with Xbox Anywhere, and we will soon be able to Play Xbox games on anything from a Surface Phone to the most high end Surface PC. On Sony's side, they are rebuilding the company around PlayStation Hardware and PlayStation Networked Services. A Handheld/Phone version of the PS4 is not an issue at all and is completely possible, as is an extream high end PS4. Niether one will copy the Switch completely, but they will offer a range of devices from mobile, to portable, to home/theater. 

Also, the handheld market is not dieing. Mobile devices are bigger than ever. What is dieing is non connected devices. If Switch has 4G + Calling and Texting, then it will sell incredibly well. The same will go for a PlayStation Phone and Handheld, and the Surface Phones. People are ready for innovation in the mobile space, now, will Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony deliver?