Let's face it. The WiiU desperately could have used a price drop two years ago.
The gamepad is a gigantic factor to the cost of the WiiU. It also happens to be an uncomfortable, heavy controller. Lots of people also prefer to use the pro controller, myself included.
Anyways, let's say the console dropped to as low as $199.99 if Nintendo dropped the gamepad, would you have bought one? Would there have been more hope or success for this console back in 2013 if Nintendo just dropped the gamepad?
I'm not sure this question is pertinent to this community. In fact, a bunch of my friends got the Wii U because of this community. Why? NeoGAF talked heavily about this very thing two years ago:
https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/browse/productDetailColorSizePicker.jsp?productId=prod150200
Basically, all of us here are typically aware (or, we should be), that for at least 2 years, you've been able to get a Wii U WITH a GamePad for $200 off the online store. Now, the general public isn't aware, and Nintendo doesn't really advertise it. They would rather you buy it at retail.
However, removing the gamepad and dropping the console to $100 even won't fix the problem. In other words - Price is not the problem with the Wii U. I don't really think price has ever been the problem. Messaging has. Naming conventions have. Target audience confusion. GamePad = accessory confusion. No support but Nintendo (so, long droughts with Major games not putting Wii U in their trailers). Too weak of hardware for 3rd party games, not enough innovation for blue ocean.
The odd part is, the Wii U to me is practically a new golden age for Nintendo content. I say that without Zelda U even being here. I like Smash 4 more than any other Smash. I like Mario Kart 8 more than any other Mario Kart. I like DKTF more than any other DKC game. I like Super Mario 3D World more than any other 2D platformering Mario, and almost up there with Galaxy and 64. Bayonetta 2 is the best action game I have played in a decade or more. X looks like the traditional JRPG most people clamor for (that are into those games). NintendoLand is probably the most pure fun I've had with friends... maybe ever. So underrated that game is. Pikmin 3 is tied for me as the best in the series. Splatoon, a multiplayer new IP, that is fucking awesome. Super Mario Maker (have a media copy) is brilliant.
I'm just happy as can be with almost everything exclusive that hit the console. Even with Zombi now on other consoles - I can't help but feel it was a totally amazing launch title and I am glad others now get to enjoy it.
Still, even with the fun I have had (it's like the Dreamcast honestly, with a much longer life cycle) I recognize Nintendo absolutely fumbled this console every step of the way, making it unappealing. Even if they removed the GamePad years ago - it would have probably been too little, too late. It's not comparable to say, removing the Kinect from the Xbox One. Your main input was a standard controller and that was there from day one.
The naming convention was bad. If they wanted to continue that Wii brand, they needed to continue what the Wii did - chiefly, take your motion controls to the next level. Not go back to standard with a touch screen - save that for a totally new pillar (a non-wii console). They claimed they wanted gamers, but then gave gamers nothing they wanted (last gen comparisons in graphical ability, dated touch screen tech, etc). As I said, maybe if this launched in 2010, it could have worked - at least for a nice 3 or 4 year run. Could have legit got cross platform games and been priced competitively with 360/PS3.
TL;DR - price was never the issue.