So Amiibo's are 15$ cheat codes now?
The problem with these type of discussions is that the mayority always gravitate to one of the extremes. Either a hater or a lover.
It's mostly psychological really. i think it's safe to assume, that the mayority of Amiibo's sales would have end up happening even withouth any game functionality. For that mayority that made the investment, the figures gain some extra value because they can interact with some Nintendo games. One figure can work in various games even.
So far the way the Amiibo functionality has been handled isn't offensive. They just amount to the frivolous extra DLC that other publishers charge you real money to access. But at the least it has the benefit or the con, depending on how invested in the figures you are, that is attached to a physical object.
Also is an impossibility to satisy everyone. Some complain that the functionality is not integral. Make it so and you end up pissing even more the side that is complaining about Amiibos been "Paid cheat codes". So i guess this "middle ground Amiibo functionality" is the safest one for now. Until Nintendo has the time to creat IP's from the ground up with Amiibo in mind.
Many are still waiting for that Smash Bros Card game by the way XD