Why? It's a big resource hog and huge liability to the overall security of the OS and system. Yet it is a possible requirement for the use of the device on the go when attempting to connect to public wifi services.
Having a bare minimum solution to display webpages for public wifi authentication services without actually letting you use it to navigate is a smart way to handle things. It eliminates the only major issue lacking a browser would actually introduce, while not requiring any real system resources be reserved for it and limiting the potential vulnerabilities a browser would pose to the OS.
A browser is a feature the vast majority of people will never use, but many will complain about it because they feel they're being robbed of something regardless of that fact. Including it simply because some will make a bit to do about it, despite the vast majority of your customers likely never using it, is a terrible way to run a business. Especially when said feature has proven to be a huge vulnerability for them on every single device they've included one in.
I have to disagree with this entire premise because the Wii U included everything, as well as the Kitchen sink. You had video chat, web browsing, TV remote functions and probably more. No one gave a shit. And the reason why, because their other devices and systems performed those functions better or we more convenient. Sure some people love the Wii U browser, good for them. But most people who own a Wii U don't use it because it's not better than what their other devices offer and the far larger segment of the population that never bought a Wii U certainly didn't care or think it was a good trade off compared to their other devices.
Nintendo cannot compete with smart devices when it comes to these services. It just isn't going to happen and chasing that white rabbit is just a recipe for disaster and wasted money.
No matter how great their Browser is, the netflix app, etc etc it's going to pale in comparison to the vast majority of people's other devices. Unless it can do everything the other devices can do and better they not going to use those features on the Switch. People will always use their phones because they can call, text, instagram, snapchat, facebook, browse the web, watch youtube, netflix, etc etc all on one device, using data and not worrying about wifi. The Switch can and will never compete with that. Tablet penetration even hasn't become as big as phones because they still fail to be as convenient as them, people don't want to care about Wifi or their size. They'll take a 6" phone that barely fits in their pocket rather than a 10" tablet that needs wifi. Even in console mode it loses out. Smart Tvs now come with many of these features and you can stream from your phone or tablet straight to the TV. I can pull a video on youtube on my phone and have it play on my TV natively. I don't even need to use something like chromecast.
The Switch is going to live and die on its ability to interest people in the things on it can do. Playing games, games at home, games on the go, games with friends. Creating those experiences regardless of where you are and with other people. The relevancy of other features that might help keep some people more connected have tremendously huge diminishing returns.
