I really do not know about the rest of you, but I am very happy with the Wii U Game Pad.
One of the first things I felt when first had it in my hands was "a return to tradition, but done right"
The Pad just feels great in my hands ... it has all the buttons in all the right places ... it feels traditional to me, unlike how I felt when I first picked up a Wiimote and Nunchuck. It felt like a return to common sense to me ... a staple ... but with a twist ... it has added functions as well ...
So when people talk about how far out an idea it was, that just seems crazy to me. It functions as a standard controller to me ... at its very basic level, it is a traditional style controller ... it has two analog sticks positioned in the best position in my opinion .... hated the idea of the placement of the 360 sticks ... it has an excellent, not wishy washy D Pad ... 4 action buttons, 4 shoulder buttons, and start, select, and home buttons.
This configuration (with the exception of the lack of analog shoulder buttons - like the GC) can be used to play any game that came out since the days of the NES ... in its simplicity, it is versatile. When you picked up a Wii, you got a Wiimote but if you wanted to play a lot of virtual console games, you needed a classic controller. Now, the Wii U Game Pad is a classic controller ... you just have to wait until they release the old virtual console games for the Wii U ... but in essence, it serves that purpose.
But the pad adds enough new twists to make it modern as well ...... gyroscope, speakers, headphone jack, microphone, Near Contact Reader, a camera, and of course, the THE TOUCH SCREEN and its Streaming Ability, Asymmetrical Gameplay, Off TV Gameplay for Wii & Wii U Games.
Because there are 100 Million Wii Systems already in homes, it makes sense not to pack a Wiimote in with the system .... people already have one!
It is backwards compatible right now ... the PS4 and XBOX 1 are not at this point.
To me, it seems like the most logical approach Nintendo could have made ... It is innovative, yet more firmly rooted in tradition than the Wii was in my opinion.