A) It's hard to remember back that far, since Club Nintendo started in 2003 in Japan and we didn't get it until five years later.
But sure, before Club Nintendo was a thing, people didn't complain about Club Nintendo. That's like "Before indoor plumbing was a thing, people didn't complain about having to go to the outhouse to take a dump - they just did it." Just because one option is better than the other option, it doesn't mean we can't dream and hope for a third option. Even more so when it's something completely within Nintendo's power and would require virtually no additional effort (again, offering previously-released no-longer-offered rewards like Nintendo Video downloads, Donkey Kong: Original Edition, etc.)
B.) I've gotten 15 Mario Kart toys from Happy Meals. When *I'M* complaining about free Nintendo stuff, something's wrong.
This rewards program is supposed to be offering stuff to their biggest and most loyal fans.
This year's rewards don't do that.
If Nintendo wants to come out and say "You know what - it's just not cost-effective for Club Nintendo to offer physical rewards anymore. From here on out, Club Nintendo will simply be a rewards program that offers digital downloads of previously released titles.", I'd be perfectly fine with that. But don't promise me "members-only benefits" and give me stuff I already have and can be bought by anyone at any time.
If I promised you a free gourmet meal, then you drove over to my house and I sat down a plate with a half of a stale cookie manufactured by "Gourmet Brands, Inc.", would you thank me for the cookie or be bitter that I over-delivered my promise?