Ok, fellas, I need a verdict. I've been going back and forth on this for almost a month. I'm waiting for some word from the GB crew on how the 3DS does with DS games. I've got a copy of Pokémon Black idling on my desk, and roughly $200 credit with Amazon.

3DS, or DSi XL?
 
I don't actually care about 3D itself. And I would be surprised not to see news of a 3DS Lite or something within a year. But I wonder what the odds are of a really good title for the 3DS between now and then...

3DS

Im hoping since you actually went out and bought a DS game you would already have some form of DS, XL or otherwise.

I had a DS with a stuck button that I traded. I'm trying to decide what to replace it with.

DS games display better on a 3DS running in DS mode (Select & Start @boot ) The 3DS's WS has improved quality over any of the DS screens. 

I'm waiting for a price drop or second model (there's always a second model) of 3DS. Apparently the DS backwards compatibilty on the 3DS isn't so great, so that's something to keep in mind as well.

Ds fat.

I'm in the same dilemma as my Lite gave up the ghost a while back and chose to go with 3DS, the DSi XL is tempting, but the 3DS will cover you for longer. Of course a hardware revision will happen, though I'm not sure if it'll be as soon as people say, but it will be no where near the change the DS had to the DS Lite, for example the screens on the DS were a real issue but Nintendo has learned a lot since and there are less glaringly obvious issues with the 3DS apart from the battery. The revision will be an aesthetic change most likely and perhaps better battery but remember, the battery is removable/expandable. 

Man, those XL screens are really large. I'd never seen them side-to-side with the DSi screens. Do you notice the upscaling when playing on an XL, or does it feel "natural"?

Was in the same sort of situation myself a few months back, having had the cash to purchase a Nintendo DSi XL but in the same week of release (maybe even before it's release) we heard about the Nintendo 3DS so I decided to sit back and wait. In the end I have an order for a 3DS coming next week and I'm pretty excited about it.  
 
It's personal choice really, the 3D isn't a big issue for me either but I'm excited about the idea of a more powerful DS with touch controls and the games developers will make for it. The 3DS is the best bet really, as the DS software will eventually dry out potentially sooner then we think and it's still very early days for 3DS software. So I'd say go with the 3DS, you'll be able to play Pokemon on it anyways.  

I have a DSi XL and I actually don't like it at all. I liked what you said there about it feeling "natural" 
 
To me, it doesn't, the image is stretched and ugly. Pokemon Black&White look especially terrible on the XL's screens. 
 
Hell, even the system software on the XL looks stretched and crappy to me. Definitely go with the 3DS my friend. It's future proof.
 
I'll be trading my XL into gamestop for 100$ off for my 3DS.

" I have a DSi XL and I actually don't like it at all. I liked what you said there about it feeling "natural"   To me, it doesn't, the image is stretched and ugly. Pokemon Black&White look especially terrible on the XL's screens.   Hell, even the system software on the XL looks stretched and crappy to me. Definitely go with the 3DS my friend. It's future proof.  I'll be trading my XL into gamestop for 100$ off for my 3DS. "

I need a replacement for my DS Lite. I considered the DSi, but ultimately decided that I'm going to be getting a 3DS eventually anyway, so why not do it now? But if nothing on the 3DS looks interesting to you right now, that decision may not necessarily be the right one.

" @JoeyRavn: There is no upscaling on the DSi XL. The screens are the same resolution just bigger. "

Good points. Thanks for the input, all. I think it's a 3DS for me.

" Good points. Thanks for the input, all. I think it's a 3DS for me. "

Go with the 3DS. It's not the 3D you should be interested in, but that it's the next generation of Nintendo handhelds. It makes more sense to me to invest in that, but if you can find an XL on the cheap and don't mind waiting for the 3DS Lite, go ahead with that.