Have you actually looked at what copying actually has made possible?
Hate Apple all you want, but without their iPhone and iPad, the touch screen interface wouldn't have been revolutionized as we know it. Sure someone may have got it right at some point, but that just isn't the fact as we stand. If you think touch screens on a huge tablet are Nintendo's invention for gaming, look at the iPhone popularity for games and the tons of games already available for it. Sure the DS did have a touch screen, but the iPad/iPhone has loads more possibilities due to better hardware. Making games for the WiiU is pretty straight forward in some parts, since proven concepts with a touchscreen interface exist.
Looking at the controllers of made for different consoles, I'd say pretty much everyone has copied Sony's original DualShock concept with the analogs. Sure people did have analogs, but the best usability was with the PSS controller released in '97? (probably till the 360 controller? Many favor it over the PS3 controller).
There is always someone who does it first, but the tech behind future solutions is usually widely different. If you think that Sony's position in the handheld/console market it easy, congratulations, you've just about missed the last 20-25 years in the console/handheld market. Regardless of how bad/good Nintendo has done in home consoles, the handheld market has been dominated by Nintendo for pretty much ever. Sony is probably one of the first real contestants here, so I'm glad I can use another option instead of the 3DS. Not that it's bad, but just because all consoles have their shortcomings.
If people really think that copying a working concept and perhaps making it better is bad, then I hope you like driving your coal powered cars. Or perhaps writing your replies to this thread via pen & paper and sending the stuff to Costello to post in a board somewhere.
As for the controller itself, I kind like the WiiU controller. It's huge and very cumbersome in some situations, but works pretty nice in others (Animal Crossing/Luigi's Mansion/Pikmin in NintendoLand for example). An inventory of some sorts would be cool for most games, but I'd hate to actually have to use that for longer gaming sessions. The WiiU Classic Controller Pro on the other hand.. One of the best controllers ever, but still possibly lacking a bit behind the 360.
ps. I'm a bit tired ATM, but thought I'd put a little wall of text here. Not everyone is a Nintendo/Sony/MS/whatever fanboy, but laughing at the other side for making valid points and possibly making your points moot is not what I'd look for. I know I have a bad habit of doing the wrong thing on occasions, but lets try being civil to each other. Otherwise someone will some day hurt another persons feelings and we may loose good members.