The gamecube was small in part because it used those stupid mini dvd's... (off topic, but) what a huge blunder on nintendo's part choosing to use those over regular sized discs.

I'd rather have the Wii hide behind my TV. The Japanese needing a small system comment it true to an extent (why buy the original PS2?)

The Wii is compact because the parts in it are small and fit snuggly (snuggle...) together. Bigger parts need room to breathe and spread out before they EXPLODE (J/k). Having high temperature parts so close together could literally cause things to melt.

Every other good reason has been mentioned along with the one I just said. It's convenient, doesn't take up to much space so it could juuust fit under the TV stand or whatever you got there. I like the Wii being light. It's like 3lbs (1.36kg) More convenient to bring to a friend's house or something, especially if you were bringing controllers and a few games.

This is true. The gamecube had that funny handle on its backside that allowed you to carry it around like a handbag.

No wonder the GC was so popular with girls

The REAL reason the Wii was made so tiny is so that your far more likely to lose it, therefore you'll have to buy a new one. In this way they will sell far more then either sony or microsoft who have made there consoles so large you never lose them....this is also why handhelds sell so well.

Wasn't there a story about how Iwata took 3 DVD cases, stacked em together and said to engineers that he wanted a console that doesn't exceed that size?

Because tiny Wii is synonomous with Japan?

because iwata named it off his own manly stature.... ha zoom zoom zoom.......to soon?

It's not just a story, it's true. Here it is from the horse's mouth: