Gameplay can be improved without the use of motion controlls. Better control schemes, improving AI, improving collision detection, improving physics, etc. can all make huge improvements to gameplay and mean just as much as motion controls.

Since it's sports games that are in question here, I would assume that fans of the sport [what ever sport it is] in general would want to simulate games like the ones that they watch. So I would assume that visuals and the factors I listed above could mean just as much, if not then quite possibly more than the improvements the Wii-Mote/PS-MotionControl/ProjectNatal could bring.

From PS1/PS2/X360 launch, up until Wii came out.

Well that was stupid of them. Instead of making a great game that is slightly not what your dream game is, just quit. ... during a recession, when every job is being attacked by 40+ people; many of which have years of experience.

Unless they make their own studio.

New studios are lucky if they can produce a demo of a game that is good enough to get support from a publisher to turn it into a Nintendo DS game ... After several years of hard work and developing a track record of success the new developer might be able to get enough funding from a third party publisher to make a Wii game.

Basically, only the developers who have demonstrated an ability to produce a game on time and budget that easily made a profit on the previous generation hardware (or PC) are given the opportunity to develop HD games because you can't risk $20+ Million on an unknown developer.

We live in an era where 1-2 people can make a game by themselves and become filthy rich via online markets such as XBLA, PSN, WiiWare, and iPhone App Store.

Skilled developers aren't as limited as they were in the past.

That's true, but you can't make a game that takes advantage of the processing power of the HD consoles in a meaningful way without a massive budget; and if the people were really leaving EA because they felt limited by the Wii they really have no ability to produce their own company that would satisfy them.

I think you're very mistaken.  The benefit of being able to do more with a faster processor isn't something only useful in high budget affairs.  Faster performance and more memory are useful to any game developer as is having a hard drive to work with.  You don't need to be making a cutting edge game to take advantage of these things.  If anything having the extra room for flexibility should cut down the time it takes to optimize performance at the least. 

That's just hardware stuff.  That says nothing about the 360's terrific Microsoft API.

Wii : The only console noone ever loved

LOL I wonder how many of those people that left are now collecting unemployment checks. Part of being a good developer is to adapt to any shift in the industry. Swimming against the current often leads to drowning.