How does going from 3 dedicated gaming machines to 2 dedicated gaming machines increase consumer choice in hardware?

you realize that a portable console hybrid at the levels of Xone and PS4 would probably cost like DOUBLE what the Switch is right? do you have any idea how the interior components of a portable system work? you need space for the battery (which takes up a LOT of space), the graphical components, all the slots for fitting memory cards, cartridges, etc.

The concept that Nintendo could just have magically made the system competitively powerful AND be a hybrid is only suggested by people who know nothing about how a portable is spaced about inside. Its the same reason almost no tablets on the market, regardless of how powerful, have been optimized to play big open world games and remain at a reasonable price point

the 'parallel' part was me pointing out that its irrelevant that you're a Nintendo fan as far as your opinion is concerned. It doesn't make your 'Nintendo doomsday' thread any more relevant than someone who doesn't like Nintendo

as for your last point- if the argument is software profits, Nintendo sells more software than any other company on the planet (as far as in house developed vs. any other company). Regardless of hardware sales.

The reality is if you're third party you're still going to have some level of development costs (getting higher and higher every year for bigger games) AND your'e going to have to split the profit with the hardware developer from licensing fees. You're completely right that Nintendo makes most of their money from software sales- but thats the point- they would be cutting it in half by going third party and would have to sell like double the software (which they already sell a lot) to make up that difference. Its not an automatic success story, look at a Capcom or Sega or any of the biggest third party developers. They're not rolling in cash for the most part 

For a portable device its way too expensive yet iv seen alot more expensive tablets, mobiles and Laptops. Switch is well priced. If you cant afford it than save up for one or sell something. Your inability to accept the price should not affect others and basically ask them to fold. No i dont want Nintendo to become a no one like Sega.

Motion and gyro. Okay...

Now, would you have considered it a wiser decision to make the joycons' features as options, and not a required part of the original package, even if only a handful of the games end up using them?

exactly. Obviously in a perfect world it would be stellar if Nintendo games could be available for all, but Nintendo going third party would require them to mostly split their profits AND take away their lucrative accessory business. It also would take away their easy cash from things like the virtual console.

Its a cute thing to suggest, but people throw it out all the time without thinking. If it were that easy to kill it as a third party developer than Capcom and Sega would be rolling in the cash (despite their dumb decisions). In the end a third party is not getting all of the profit from sales and has to sort of play ball with the hardware manufacturer's whims

Because portability isn't a big, defining aspect that's considered enough to separate this console from its competitors. I could also say that smartphones are an even bigger portability factor, because people conveniently carry them around more often, and the base is much higher.

No, it's the controller, why would I want that to be optional? That's like making an analog stick an optional function. When I purchse the console, I'll have a very capable controller. 

Plenty of games don't use all the buttons/features of any given controller, but having those features standard means developers are more likely to use them. 

It increases from 1 device to 100 devices you can play Nintendo games on.

yeah, big 'semblence' to the Wii U when the Switch has a PORTABLE hybrid component and the Wii U can't leave your house. that's just silly. The Wii U essentially had a tablet controller that added very little. The Switch can leave the house.

It's apples and oranges, more or less the Switch conceptually is what the Wii U SHOULD have been, because it actually advances gaming and brings something new. The Wii U was just a tablet connected to a game system and practically nothing different than the PS3 and Vita had with remote play

Perhaps it isn't for you, but it is for many people. It's not the ONLY factor, but being able to play something like Zelda BotW on the go is an appealing feature for many.