Shut up @Dr\. bob! It's just a bloody word! Is it a london thing? I wanted to say it's a london thing but I don't actually think it is. I don't know.
ANYWAY.
Good points actually - but if it's a strategy they specifically go for to avoid risk of losing money on unsold units, surely that's something that can be sold to the board? Also as I said I'm not talking like long term years or anything, just maybe first few months. You aren't trying to capture a particular buying season so I can't see a downside to it. I'm not saying it's definitely sensible, but I just can't see the major downsides - I'm not sure if shareholder/shareprice is going to matter enough in the short-ish period I'm thinking.
Oh yeah, I don't disagree they need to push hard at some point. I'm just saying a cautious launch could save them some monies on avoiding over-manufacture of stock from the get go. Significantly overshooting incurs higher costs both for the manufacture(components/tech/price falling over time) and having stale stock about. I still think it's a mistake probably made with the WiiU(though I have no way of knowing) and if it is one maybe it's something they've considered and want to try and approach differently this time?
I'm also not suggesting a stutter - I'm saying release cautiously with a view to meet higher demand if it's there. If it isn't there they risk losing money as above. If it IS there - well, they can meet it or possibly run a little short of it; how damaging will running a little short really cost them? Will someone decide not to buy an NX just because it wasn't there the one day they wanted after they've already waited all this time? Price, ofc, factors into that decision and it's one that none of us know yet. A stutter could happen regardless of their supply plans - if the demand isn't there(similar arguably to Wii U) it'll stutter regardless.
Hyping it and making the thing do well CAN come later. It doesn't have to be on launch. Showing that the console is hot property, too, can come later - and again as a portable I think it'll start doing that to an extent by itself and begin selling itself with that.