I agree. Metroid is best as the 2D kind of game it started out as. I mean, it isn't bad as a 3D FPS or anything, but I think Nintendo should introduce an entirely new franchise to compete with Halo type games and allow Metroid to be what it started out as.
I'm thinking maybe it isn't the 3Dness of the newer Metroid games that is necessarily the problem; but rather the FPS aspect of it. Mario and Zelda both turned out extremely well after making the transition from 2D to 3D, but could you imagine Super Mario 64 being from the first person perspective? What about a first person Ocarine of Time? I don't think either would have worked out as well. Maybe it is just me, but I like controlling my character AND being able to see the character from a third person perspective. It is just less complicated for me. So I wouldn't really mind a 3D Metroid, but I don't like the FPS. Will Metroid fans ever get this experience that Zelda and Mario fans have known for a decade?
Super Metroid for the SNES is up there on my top 10 list of greatest games of all time. I wish they would make another one like it. I suppose there would be some interesting new things you could do with the stylus to solve puzzles or to program your weapons/suit configuration.... or if you're in ball mode you could draw your path? *shrug* I dunno, but even if there is no touch screen support, a Super Metroid-esque game is long overdue, imho.
It would also be cool if there were a Metroid RPG game, ala Super Mario RPG. But I suppose that's for another thread.