Finally read the thread, and wanted to give my input on a few points.
First of all, Bend is not a B-tier developer, they're really talented, but the studio is not big enough to manage to create and release a triple A HD-console-games.
Uncharted 2 and 3 might be better than Golden Abyss. But Golden Abyss is without a doubt a much better game than for example Enslaved, Tomb Raider or other similar games in the genre from other console developers in the same genre, and it's a launch-game. :-/
Yes it got some gimmicks, i.e. charcoal rubbings wich take 3-5 seconds to do, but it also got the good stuff Uncharted series is known for, like allways perfect camera (no leap to edge you can't see), fun gameplay and popcorn story, really good pacing.
Second, when you buy a Vita, you'll find hundreds of games in the PSN-store.
If you don't have internet, and are restricted to the few games Gamestop orders, then the device is bad.. If you have internet tough, I find it hard to believe that you won't atleast be able to find a backlog as soon as you get your Vita..
You might be super excited for Uncharted, and Gravity Rush, but that dosn't mean that you can't enjoy stuff like Army Corpse of Hell, or other fun games wich might not have the brand recognition the big games have.
Third, Sales in Japan havn't taken off yet.
But sales will pick up there when the price drop, or the gamers economy get's a boost, same as it will in the rest of the world..
Persona 4 Golden, sold 260k and Hatsune Miku sold 230k, that's pretty good attach-rate and show that gamers really enjoy playing on the device..
When Tales of Hearts R come out in 2013, the price of the system will hopefully be lower.
Fourth, it's possible to have co-existing type of games.
You can enjoy both Sunflower, a small pick-up and play game, and Virtua Tennis.
There is nothing wrong with that.
I don't get this mentality, that it has to be one type of games.
I'm a huge Virtua Tennis fan, so I double dipped there.
I expected I would play it on console at home, and on handheld on travel and work.. I ended up playing it on handheld at home aswell tough, due to it looks just as good on my small screen a half meter from my eyes, than on the big screen 4 meter from my eyes. It's pretty much identical gameplay-wise, except from some extra minigames.. There seems to be mainly more difference on the spectator crowds on console, but it is much quicker loading, and in the clubhouse, when outfitting my players, everything runs faster and better on handheld.
The device is awesome, in my humble opinion the Vita is basically the equivalent of a Ferrari of handheld gaming devices for the hardcore gamer.
Just because more people buy Opel rather than Ferrari, dosn't mean that Ferrari should cease production of their supercars.
If the Ferrari engineers could bring down the prices, more people would buy Ferrari. Same will happen with Vita.
