When the Switch is released in March, the Wii U would have already been on the market for four years and four months.
Assuming that all major activity for the console will cease around that time, what sort of final grade would you give the Wii U as a video game platform?
Some things to consider:
In spite of it's initial $300-$350 MSRP back in 2012, it was still cheaper than the PS4 ($400) and the Xbox One ($500).
It was the only console that allowed backwards compatibility out of the box from day one. The Xbox One allowed it later through patching, and the PS4 only allows consumers to play PS1, PS2, and PS3 games through PlayStation Store purchase and downloads.
It was the only console that had backwards compatibility with accessories. Accessories for the Wii worked flawlessly with the system, whereas Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers were incompatible with their successor consoles.
It was the only console still offering meaningful and successful first-party exclusive titles. The Xbox One and PS4 has had very little exclusive titles for each system, and none of which are groundbreaking or even new (Remastered editions, etc.). The only thing that has driven console sales for these platforms are just multiplatform titles (Battlefield, Call of Duty, EA Sports, Assassin's Creed, etc).
It was the only home video game console to have online multiplayer without having to subscribe to a premium online client for a monthly or annual fee.
With all that said, what's your final grade of the Wii U?