This is a reasonable discussion to have in the context of a new portable, actually. Nintendo DS had several new interface features -- dual screens, touch screen, microphone, even wireless/online. The first year of DS games was indeed terrible (even longer in the US if you weren't importing), as developers, even Nintendo, took their sweet time to get beyond lame mini-game compilations and other gimmicky game designs. The same happened with 32/64-bit ports, but to a lesser extent.
Where I disagree with Ian is that developers finally got past those features and started to treat DS like GBA2. Many of the best DS games just have a more thoughtful, less eager approach to using the new interfaces in the context of both traditional and new game designs. While I have some complaints with the DS Zelda games, they are in fact excellent examples of how to integrate new interface features with familiar, deep game designs.
Regarding the 3DS, it is quite likely that many of the early games will be gimmicky crap, as developers rush to get product on the market before they fully understand the game design possibilities associated with the new features. It happened with DS and Wii, and it will happen again. It's part of the cycle at this point, as long as Nintendo keeps pushing boundaries like this. If you are really concerned about the initial crop of games, don't buy the system until it is more mature.