The controller had a weird and unfortunate shape. It’s still miles better than any PS controller due to Sony’s refusal to put the stick on a natural position for the the thumb.

Sega and then Microsoft (after the first huge iteration) got both general shape and analog positions right.

Cartridge is an indefensible choice, it was perhaps borne of Nintendo’s falling out with Sony that prejudiced them against CD. Nintendo probably liked that they were more difficult to pirate as well, gamers not as much evidently. The Gamecube going optical but with a bizarre reversed mini-dvd is even worse.

There’s also a complete absence of software from your post, whatever it’s shortcomings Nintendo and Rare pushed some amazing games on it which people remember fondly.