Iwata likes to basically challenge his people by announcing things and daring them to not come through with those things.

He's bullish.

Is any Launch games use the NFC abilities? Is this going to be like 3DS AR Cards and used rarely and only novelty factor

I haven't heard of any Wii U games that even support NFC, yet alone confirmed for launch.

I'm surprised they haven't announced NFC point cards.

I actually bought a 3DS / Wii U points card yesterday and I didn't see anywhere where that NFC would skim over

Hmmm maybe cuz it's a 3DS point card as well?

What I want to know is the pictures says Reader/Writer.  Is that accurate?  I could see some really cool things in the future if you could write data on to them. 

It just seems like yet another feature Nintendo likes to throw in just to see if it sticks.

Like microphone on japanese famicom and DS and many other features.

I really like the idea but seeing how Skylanders are not using even if it's exactly the same technology sets a really bad precedent.

With Skylanders: Giants, it's just because Activision wants to stick with the accessory they already created. This technology could have some good use if developers take advantage.

I wish I was powerful enough that I could announce things and then just let other people deal with the consequences of actually making it happen. Iwata's my hero.

"With Wii U, we can now bring you matter transportation and faster-than-light travel!"

"Darn you, Iwata!  Boys, let's get to work!"

Rayman?

There is a very good sci fi short story about that. By Heinlein i think. Or Asimov.

Given i've had three Android devices that all have NFC in them (Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7; see a pattern?) and the most ive ever done with them is accidentally make my oystercard or contactless credit card talk to them only to get "unknown tag".

NFC is very much a solution in search of a problem and i've yet to see a need to put them in portable devices. The only place that almost makes sense to have them is in payment cards, which "should" make payments faster.
I suspect this will be the "that thing" that has no real-world purpose for even being on a Nintendo device, like the clicky gamecube triggers and the strange hook attachment on the classic controller.

I've used it to transfer contact info. Full disclosure though, it was only to see how.

Seriously, all the NFC has to do is be one touch payment solution.  Then allow other to use it.  If that is all that does it totally justifies itself right there.  Takes a one of the many hassles of digital acquisition in the Nintendo World.  Thank about going on Amazon, Target, Toys'R'Us, Best Buy, etc.  and just tapping the card you want to use and clicking yes my shipping address is the same.  Bam instant convenience.

Skylanders model just wouldn't work with NFC on the Controller.  It effectively makes it so you couldn't use the Gamepad as a controller.  Plus it wouldn't allow for the lightcore feature of the new generation of Skylanders.