I think they kept 3D mostly because the console is meant as an upgrade to the original 3DS, not an alternative, like the 2DS. It would create an even worse rift in the userbase if the "better" one was missing a feature of the original, like glasses-free 3D.
I don't know how you pull that off. I can barely survive in Mega Man and similar games with each finger on a function at all times.
I didn't notice the N3DS Smash Bros one. I'm thinking that will just be a Japanese bundle as Smash Bros will already be out. Next year, it might end up being a limited edition N3DS people in other countries can order, or just plates you could swap onto your N3DS. It would fit with things they've done in the past.
This is nothing new. A lot of companies will do things like this to double dip into the wallets of people that like to collect that kind of stuff. It's not expensive or hard to print something on a shell, they already had the artwork, so I doubt they'll lose any money on this decision, only the consumers will be losing money.
Nope, not even a word about their next handheld/console, apart from they aren't exiting the hardware business and the successor's are being worked on.
Take a look at the moment 29min20s:
There is nothing stopping them from releasing New 3DS Smash bundles later on the West
