I think the big problem is Nintendo's done a piss-poor job creating a feeling of ownership with their digital products. The lack of an account system is scary, making it feel that if we are to lose our hardware, we lose all the games with it. But it doesn't end there. It's also the constant push they give to re-purchase software. The same games we bought with the Wii VC require upgrades to be bought to fully-play them on the Wii U. There's also no ability to play these games on the 3DS, even if the emulators are already there.
Basically, the big reason people don't think these are worth $8, is because we know we'll have to repurchase it on the next machine Nintendo comes out with, and the next one. That doesn't exactly make these games feel valuable.
Meanwhile, other digital storefronts, such as PSN and Steam, have features like this. With Steam, should I buy a new PC, I can just download the game again. With PSN, the PS1 games I own can be played on the PS3, Vita, PSP, and most likely the PS4 soon. I don't constantly feel like I'm going to have re-purchase what is really just a rom.
