If the blog post on Nintendo3dsblog was anything to go by, the 3DS XL has 1.5 Hours longer battery life (3 to 6.5 hours) and larger screens...that's about it. I'm fine with this. Besides, it isn't an actual revision of the system, it's just like the DSiXL was a bigger DSi. Not much else.
I honestly thought the Nintendo Direct was great. We got a status update on SSB4, a general release date for Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask for North America, official confirmation that Fire Emblem 3DS is headed to North America, eShop discounts (more to come, I'm sure), the announcement of two 3DS Virtual Console titles to be released each week, as well as more details on Pokemon Dream Radar and Pokedex Pro.
Just because you were expecting Wii U news (even though they said the conference is for Wii, DS, and 3DS news only) doesn't make this a bad conference.
I thought it was full of good news and information.