Because of how it was advertised? I mean Nintendo puts out a new nintendo 3ds cover for one game? Just thought (like im sure others did as well) that there would be more than just xenoblade. Not that difficult to understand.
I didn't get that impression at all...
I still think we got Xenoblade only because of Japan. The Wii Version didn't sell well since it was on the Wii, a new "Xenoblade" game was about to launch, there was hardly any hype since most japanese gamers didn't play the original... and being handheld-country, it seemed only logical to bring it to the 3ds.
Besides that, the n3DS was always just the latest (and best) version of the 3ds which adressed most complaints people had with the original, so I don't see why they should pump out exclusive software at all cost for a mere updated version.
I mean, just like the gbc and the dsi, it replaced the original unit in stores, so there was hardly any need to create an incentive to make people buy it instead, since who didn't own a 3ds before would have to go for a n3ds anyway (or a used one ofc). And people who where "upgrading" could benefit from an overall better system - if they really wanted.
It's the same with phones really... why do people by new ones despite owning a perfectly fine older model? the software is the same, it just runs faster.