Why do people continuously see this as a successor to the 3DS? It's so bizarre. But even if this we're the case, would a handheld really sell well at $300. The 3DS sold like crap at &250.
Other than being $250 - 3DS sold like crap because:
- it had no big games until the price drop
- the 3D gimmick was much worse than Switch's gimmick
- it was not much of an upgrade over DS.
Compare that with Switch:
- new Zelda at launch(only 14 mil Wii U owners so please refrain from reminding us of Zelda U we are all aware of it), MK8(ditto), Splatoon 2, Minecraft, new Super Mario. This list wipes the floor with absolutly everything that came out on the 3DS during it's first year.
- Gimmick is portable home console that allows local multiplayer on the go, two kid-sized controllers straight out of the box, rumble, gyro, sensors etc
- Compared to the 3DS the Switch is a major upgrade in every conceivable way
People continue to look at the 3DS with rose colored goggles - it was much much worse at launch than the Switch and inflation alone makes it a more costly device.