i played about 16 games start to finish last month, and another 6 games that i didn't like at all, played once, and then threw out.
22 games, thats, say, 40$ a game, so (that would have been) 880$ just in games last month.
God i love my flashcard, and i sure as hell won't be buying a 3DS before i can play my own legal backups on it
otherwise, there is no feasible way to support my family AND my gaming habbit.
Having a flashcard allows me to take care of my family AND play cool games. I gladly pay 400$ for the console if i have to.
I also own physical copies of the games i deem worth keeping, i have some 45 DS titles. I figure i pay my respects to the developers by buying the game. If i consider it worth it. And certain games just make me say "TAKE ALL MY MONEY SO YOU CAN DEVELOP THE NEXT ONE" without flinching.
That works out to me buying maybe 1 - 2 titles each month.
Flashcards all the way. Kind of like eating at a restaurant. You pay up after you eat, and if the food was crap you have a word with the manager. But video games don't give you that option. you buy it, and it's crap, Then you sit there with a useless piece of plastic.
Untill then, from the launch date of the 3DS, i shall save 1$ every day. On the day that a working flashcard solution is presented, i will use my saved money (i figure it's going to be a year or to, that way i don't get my hopes up) to buy the console.
Because only then, will i get a chance to try the games before i buy them.