Instead of simply porting Super Mario 64, they should have instead just built a new game around the existing engine. Of course, considering how little we actually know of SM64DS (man, that is one weird acronym), that could very well be the case.
I don't know. There are still too many unowns... er, unknowns about the games.
My feeling is, if Nintendo knew a few months ago that the PSP was going to be delayed until late next year, we probably wouldn't be seeing the DS until mid-December, at the earliest.
Ian, this isn't the worst launch lineup in history... that would belong to the Virtual Boy ^_^ And they can't delay it at this late point in the game.
And to be totally honest, I really wasn't planning on buying a DS off the bat anyway. Aside from the Gamecube, I always wait at least 6-12 months after a console release before I get into it, if at all.