3ds sells because its a kids toy. despite what it may feel like after spending too much time on gaf, nintendos franchises are still designed to appeal to 10-year-olds. vita is not marketed as a kids toy, and does not have lots of well-known franchises, so it gets passed up by parents. plenty of adults like more involved games than your standard ios shite, but not enough to spend hundreds of dollars for them (like me!) instead we just content ourselves with whats available on the cheap til someone finds a good way to make a substantial game that can sell for cheap on smartphones.