Can a nunchuk chuck?

The Wii is constantly being praised in the mainstream media, but it isn't without the backlash of so-called 'marks' in the games industry; opinionated persons with a viewpoint that we all need to be told about, because they know.  According to them, we should listen.  So, what are they saying and should we agree?

One regular charge is that the Wii is a gimmick driven console.  Ok; for a start you'd need to define exactly what you mean by gimmick and also show how a gimmick is automatically a negative thing in all cases.  Today's case in point?  The nunchuk.

Is it just a 'broken off control stick', akin to splitting a traditional control pad in two and using the left hand side?  I say no.  For a start, the nunchuk is very small.  It sits neatly in your hand and is incredibly light to hold.  It contains two buttons as well as the directional stick, and all that is before you start to shake, rattle n' roll, or fit the device into the Zapper housing.

The nunchuk acts as a secondary motion device, allowing you to do such things as boxing (where the nunchuk acts as your left glove and the Wiimote as your right), and special sword attacks in Twilight Princess.  Dragonball Z 2 sees you executing forward thrusting moves which could never be possible with just one, stocky remote that was wireless.  You'd look as though you were doing an 80's morning TV fitness routine!  The nunchuk is not Nintendo trying to sell you a controller twice over.  What it does is far more than just 'the left half of the pad' on a traditional model.

I say to the chuk-haters: you're wrong. The secondary nature of the nunchuk is the best thing to happen to gaming since the DS stylus.  Of course, if you don't agree we'd like to hear why.  Saying you wish your nunchuk was bright, neon pink doesn't derail my point ...