This is a good way of seeing it. And highly likely.
Also, this controller would not be a direct replacement for the handheld. It would just be a nice add-on feature for the home console.
Yeah, Im kinda feeling thats what we should expect, and anything above that would be a surprise.
Nintendo is almost bound to down use Wi-Fi Remote Play as a bare minimum for the handheld (or full screen controller, if its that). Wii U showed their keen on the idea, Sony proved its entirely viable, and Nintendos handheld ethos is obviously strong (on top of the internal dev teams merging and the shared OS).
As cool as it would be for the library to be totally, 100% shared across two devices, it just seems too much of a big issue to implement without big compromises to either cost or hardware.
I honestly feel that, for all intents and purposes, NX will be essentially the Wii U ethos of thinking, taken to the next level, plugging the gaps exposed by that systems relative failure. So:
- More power/competitive power, easier dev tools
- Remote Play with the handheld, which (as you and many other have suggested) can also act as a controller for the home version of the system
- The ability to play NX handheld titles in some way
- A stronger, and larger library of games out of the gate (bolstered by the Wii remasters youve mentioned)
- Stronger connectivity with mobile devices
- A slicker OS
While the handheld may be essentially:
- A more powerful Vita, with its own library of titles
- Access to Nintendos own mobile games (e.g. Miitomo) with easier dev tools for Android ports
- Connectivity to mobile devices
- Connectivity to the NX home console and WiFi enabled Remote Play (for both games and entertainment)
In short, mixing the philosophy courted with Wii U, with power and connectivity of PS4 and PS Vita.