The Wii U was being scalped and that wasn't the 'hottest' thing, not even by a mile

Again, why do people like you keep saying that "Nintendo always does this".  The PS3 was released in very low numbers at launch to build hype only to have extra stock everywhere just two weeks later.  The PSVR was released in small numbers to build hype just to have stock everywhere just a few weeks later.  Almost all manufacturers do the same and for very good reasons, not just Nintendo.

Part of the reason why this system is going to be "hot" this holiday season is that the price of it makes it a perfect smaller gift for a wife to give to her husband.  Most of them wont play it much, but they most likely will get more enjoyment out of it than most other things they get.  I'll be buying one for myself once they're in stock.  I'll enjoy it some, but the price makes it too tempting not to buy for most people.

Nintendo always does this.

N64, Wii, Wii U, amiibo waves 1-4, and now this.

Yeah, this shortage helps drive demand, but it's not good for the consumer, and sooner or later, there will be a day where NES Classics collect dust at stores, and be readily available at Nintendo's online store.

Wouldn't really categorize it's as a console

This thing's going to collect dust by March, everyone will forget about it in a few months.

Just like the Amiibo rage, wonder how people who collected them feel about that now lol, hoarded all the figures but now what?

What's interesting is that 3ds sales boomed (at least on Amazon) around the same time it became clear that there were next to none of these things available. 

Note: I'm not saying that was intentional on Nintendo's part, it could just be that people are eager to buy nintendo products as they get excited about the mini Nes. 

Don't buy from scalpers. By paying such horrific prices, scalpers get encouraged to keep doing that shit.

I just don't understand why some are willing to pay so much for them "justifying" the scalpers.  You don't have to have it that bad.

Those are cheap...

Apparently there's dumb people out there who actually bought it at outrageous prices, though maybe the scalpers themselves just flagged them as sold just to influence price and demand somehow.