Topic: I'm not a fan of how Nintendo is handling Amiibo

For me, I'm just collecting the Smash series and I don't mind too much if I just use them in Smash to fight against and level up, and of course have on display because they look fantastic (especially when you have 30+). I guess it would be nice if they did something cooler than give you tokens to buy music tracks in Xenoblade or costumes in Mario Kart, but I mean at the end of the day:

I don't think these figures are aimed at you at all. If you don't even like collecting figures then there isn't really a problem as you're not really the market. To most, the figures are the desirable and any content is a bonus.

I think cards are a good solution here. I can't say I've ever been a collector of figures (the dusty Star Trek ships from Furuta might argue otherwise), but the fact that they look nice and unlock game content is the appeal. If they were just plastic figures I might have bought Toad for my kid and that's it. It's more palatable to me to buy a tangible object like a figure which unlocks built-in content than to pay money to unlock content that's already in the game I downloaded. The distinction is small, but important for some.

From the last direct it seems like the cards are being used for unique functions.

Fire Emblem characters aren't part of codename STEAM lore. So yep, they are just bonus because of amiibo. They handled it fine so far IMO.

For Smash, you can use the CPU if you don't like the amiibo feature. For Hyrule Warriors, it was an after thought. Same as MK8 Mii suits. Captain Toad, again an after thought and just an added "challenge" or achievement. Not really game breaking.

For Mario Party, it's complicated. But before they've released the game, you know you're buying the game for 40bucks with features that needs an amiibo. Much like buying Wii Sports U and Wii Fit U with a warning that it requires a peripheral like wiimote and wii balance board and meter. They didn't lock you out. It was advertised as it is.

Edit:
For Yoshi, it's just a second player CPU that you can exploit. My only problem is there is a high demand on amiibos that Nintendo couldn't keep up supply. I blame the retailers for handling the sales. But they are learning and some are already imposing one amiibo per customer rule.

Edit2:
For Kirby, just an "easy mode" bonus from amiibos with extra health/damage/powerup. For Splatoon, it's like Captain Toad. An added "challenge mode" or achievements (time attack for one) on already playable content that gives you bonus costumes/items according to the EDGE magazine article.

I never said it was gamebreaking. It just locks extra content away behind a paywall of buying an Amiibo.

I quite like how they're used myself. I don't often get to buy figures of my favorite nintendo characters like Samus, Megaman, and Ness (I can't believe I actually got him!) The fact that they add stuff is just a bonus. I love the Smash and Mario Party usage, especially since I can train them on both my Wii U and New 3ds. The Hyrule Warriors spinner is amazing, and it feels nice to get those extra materials. Mario Kart 8's constumes are okay, but a nice bonus.

However, I question the Splatoon amiibos. If that's their only use, then I feel that they're too expensive. Hopefully they get more support.
Also, I REALLY love those yarn Yoshi amiibos! I want one SO BAD... If they don't all sell out in a couple minutes... :`(

Yeah the yarn Yoshis look awesome - I'd love to see them do more stuff like that with different materials.

@iKhan You're missing the point, if you're getting the amiibos for the content. The content is nice, yeah, but to me, just having the figure and the Smash functionality completely justifies the price of the figure. Everything else is bonus content. It's not stuff that was already there, laying in wait to scam you out of an extra $15. It's just a fun little bonus for people that were interested in the Amiibos.

If you don't want the figure, don't get the figure. You really aren't missing out on much, I assure you. Odds are that the challenges with the Splatoon Amiibos can be accessed without them and using the amiibo will have some other functionality than just unlocking them. That HUB world looks pretty complex. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a 1-player arena hiding somewhere we haven't seen, yet.