Short story (asking what others do):
How do you decide it's time for new hardware? New 3DS isn't a major upgrade, but has some nice features. I think I'm just about ready to buy in...
Long story (that explains why I'm ready):
So I've been tempted to grab a New 3DS for a while. What really sells me on it isn't the huge list of exclusive games (one that I'd rather play on Wii U, one that is wildly buggy) but the little touches: so-called "super stable 3D", built-in support for Circle Pad Pro games, able to transfer files to PC without removing SD card...
I'm not super keen on going XL, but not dead set against it and that's the only model available here anyway.
There has been one thing holding me back though: price! Why pay a premium for a new handheld system that offers incremental upgrades but very little meaningful incentive to buy in? Well I think the recent Monster Hunter sale finally sealed the deal.
See, it's not that you can't play Monster Hunter with a basic 3DS - it plays just fine! But there is something wrong with my system. When pressure gets applied just a certain way in the bottom right corner (no, not on the power button but just when holding the system) the power cuts out. Three times it's happened while playing Monster Hunter... and three times it's been on a hunt about 45+ minutes in, just finishing off the third big monster of a set, when things go black. Rage! I think it has something to do with the tension, and my grip slowly getting tighter and or twistier as the final few blows are getting ready to land.
It's a shame really. Nintendo promised to fix my current 3DS XL last Christmas, but when it arrived at the repair center they just shipped it back "as is" with a note that it wasn't under warranty and couldn't be repaired (despite being under warranty, and them promising to repair or replace it after extensive discussions and descriptions of what was wrong with the console) and then charged me full cost for a replacement anyway. Nintendo offered to try a second time to "fix it" for me... but between losing my handheld for a month or so for no good reason and then having them hold my money for another month or so afterwards, I wasn't keen on trusting them to get things right. Still, I only paid $100 for this console new and always intended to replace it eventually.