Directs are basically the modern day nintendo power equivalent but people get hyped for each one like it's E3 in march. It's not. It's just a brief overview of things to come with a few announcements. If you look at it like a new issue of nintendo power coming in the mail rather than a giant press conference with multiple bombs being dropped then you can just sit back and enjoy it rather than be disappointed when it's not the greatest thing you could imagine.
I think the lack of frequency recently (or maybe even smash reveals) made people get more and more hyped for this, but for a time, I recall nintendo directs being something neat to look forward to rather than this thing in which people need megatons or it wasn't worth it.
Nintendo direct doesn't HAVE to have megatons - just sit back and enjoy. If nothing gets announced that you're hyped about, wait for E3. Smash spoiled you guys, I think.