Yeah, absolutely, Ceric. Nintendo has got to distance itself from the Wii name. It's perfectly ok to start a new brand - after all, Nintendo did it with the Wii. Core gamers don't take the Wii name seriously, and I'd be afraid that keeping this horrid Wii U name will only further their stance on the console. Same goes with core game devs, too -- they just won't touch the system with big time games if they know that the main audience is just going to be casual/non-gamers who only play fluffy puff casual games.
I don't want Nintendo to fail in this regard. Honestly, I don't want to go another console generation where I have to wade through all the casual junk just to find the rare gems. Nintendo created success, sure, during this generation; but it also created a bit of travesty, too. As a core-type gamer, I love and hate my Wii.
I don't want that same feeling with Nintendo's next console. It needs a new name, new approach, and new feel. Hopefully E3 will show us all that the real Nintendo is back.