What should we/can we read into this?
He's saying that if you think the NX is a traditional successor to their current hardware then you're probably mistaken. "Traditional successor" is typically a product that just improves upon the specs and functionality of the current product, e.g. iPhone 6 to iPhone 5. It doesn't rewrite the rules or disrupt the script -- just business as usual.
If it's not "merely" a "handheld" OR "stationary console," what the hell is it?
My theory is that the NX is a joint venture between Nintendo and another company, wherein Nintendo governs the software and handheld component and the other company governs the console component. In other words, the NX isn't a specific piece of hardware, rather, it's an ecosystem of devices that can play Nintendo software. I think the hook/gimmick that the NX has will be that the console component can stream full console games to the handheld via remote play, ensuring that Nintendo has a library of software that eclipses anything else they've done before. Basically, this is how they solve the third-party problem for good. This is also why I believe Nintendo won't be talking about NX at E3, because the other company will do the talking for them.
Questions you should be asking yourself are as follows:
1) Is the future videogame market going to support more consoles or less?
2) If my theory is true, who do you think Nintendo would partner with?
3) Is there an opportunity for Nintendo in the VR space?
4) Is the current Nintendo leadership opposed to making a huge shift to their business model?
5) If Nintendo were to partner with another company, who would you want them to partner with?
Anyways, I'm probably wrong, but sometimes, being wrong feels so right.
Exit, stage left.