I agree that people will probably just find something else to bitch about.
What I don't understand is how they could take something out of the game that has been every Mario Kart game, excluding the original for SNES.
The power slide boost in the N64 version compared to the DS version is similar in the way that you attain the boost by flicking the control stick back and forth, but the game controls differently which I think makes it harder to pull it off as fast and easily. I don't know anyone that can "snake" in the N64 version, mainly because it controls differently I think.
Couldn't they have somehow made the game control similarly to the N64 version? That way, you could still flick the control stick back and forth to build your boost, instead of this stupid "how long can I hold the power slide!" method. Trying to make it more n00b friendly I guess and appeal to the demographic of people that have a Wii, but are not really gamers.