It wouldn't be a sign of weakness, just stupidity.

It is just business. Their main audience is still intact, they are just trying to bring in more. Expanding your user base is never a bad idea, and accessories never cause a console to fail. Not sure what the problem is.

Not a sign of weakness after all, every technology used was copied from something previous, as I've stated in this thread (link at bottom of thread) , MS just won't have what it takes to make this a big thing.

I mean if another controller works, thats great, but these secondary types of controllers just don't have a history of working.

Here's a link to those previous comments on this :  http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=32546&start=50

A blatant Wii copy would be seen as weakness and would alienate existing Xbox fans. I think they should add pointer and twist functinailty to their existing controller. Don't take anything away and then add motion controls, just add motion controls. This would benefit BK, Viva Pinata, Halo Wars, FPSes, RTSes, and might help other things, and wouldn't hurt any games.

All new consoles could be packaged with this controller, though the fact that existing consoles owners would have to upgrade controllers might be a problem... but then again PS1 had multiple controllers, so I devs could just make all games compatible with both controller types.

TBH I really could care less if they copy anyone. Obviously the informed consumers on this site are going to take it as a sign of weakness but for the majority of video game consumers the announcement won't seem like a weakness. Copying a business rival is part of the business whether we like it or not. One could argue the consoles stole online gaming from the PC, or on console specific online, we stole it from the dreamcast. We could also argue that the PSN and Wiiware stores were copied from XBL or online websites like Amazon, Ebay...etc  The arguments will just go around in circles and they are pointless.

To some it would seem like a sign of weakness but all MS is trying to do is provide a gaming experience that can apply to as many types of gamers as possible. Isn't that what every console wants?

Nope, the lineup that M$ has garnered for their audience is fantastic and if the rumored motion control fails, nothing will happen.

no you should know fanboys by now, all this means is that its cool to have motion as long as it for teh 360

Not really, it is just the way it goes. X-mote would be a way to make more money, so why not make it? If they make it work with halo wars, it will be a huge seller.

I don't think is weakness its smart, that is how business are done.
Would it be a sign of weakness if Nintendo ads DVD capabilities, storage and better online service. No it would be good right?

Until Home moves from the realm of vaporware to be an actual service Sony provides then MS wouldn't be copying it.  If true, we have no idea how long the "my gamer pad" has been in development so any argument is pure speculation, but I digress.

@OP If implemented well I don't think it would be a sign of weakness.  That will of course depend on its funtionality and whether or not they made any improvements, but everybody copies everybody else in this business, and to think otherwise is naive.  Nintendo weren't the first to make a home video game system, so they are just as guilty.