It's not a failed controller by any means, there is a lot of great things it accomplishes that can't be done elsewhere. I hope they continue to offer a game pad like option in their next system as well. You're right though, it is a controller, plain and simple, but it's truly a fantastic and unique controller. Nintendo just needs to put less of an emphasis on it. For the most part they're great about making the game pad completely optional, but there are a few rare occasions where the game pad is needlessly a neccessity when a pro controller would get the job done just fine. But for the most part they do a great job of making it completely optional and adding in unique gameplay ideas that can utilize it.