We'll have to agree to disagree with this one. The reason I began tailing off with my 2K dunk contest participation is because it was a fantasy world. As a dunk enthusiast, and as much as I enjoyed playing that mode, there were characteristics that became too tough to overlook. Namely, the outdoor setting. I feel like there were even burning trash cans out there at some point. Further, players sat on thrones, Bobbito Garcia was trotting around yelling into a mic ad nauseum and players had the opportunity to jump over barrels like we were playing the skate jumping event on World Championships for the NES. It was very un-NBA, and in turn that was unappealing to me.
Furthermore, what eventually killed the dunk contest for me altogether in previous 2K's (and I'm venturing to believe I'm not alone) was the lack of customization. At one point I believe it was required that every 2K contest feature four dunkers and four rounds. One of my favorite things about the NBA Live Dunk Contest (aside from the controls) was the fact I could take two dunkers, throw some retro jerseys on them, then have a quick one round (three dunks) contest and be done. 2K's dunk contests held gamers hostage. They had to choose to either control all four dunkers or sit and watching three computer players slowly finish their turns. Then, when 2K decided to switch it up, they went to the complete other side of the spectrum, implementing a one minute, split-screen, one round dunk off in 2K11 that at that point, truly did seem to throw all sense of dunk planning and preparation out the window.
On the flip side, I'm not sure I'm big on playing the "something the whole family can enjoy" card. I'd be curious to see exactly how often things come down to a situation where there's someone who owns NBA 2K, and they have someone with them (a mom, a dad, a friend) who sucks at video games, but really has a yearning to suddenly enter button commands that have no set control over what's happening on screen during an NBA video game dunk contest.
I suppose I just don't understand why the dunk contest was selected as the mode that had to be dumbed down to appeal to the masses we're not entirely sure exist in the first place. I feel the 3pt. Contest would be the perfect mode to appeal to those without much video game sense who have a yearning to play anyhow. The 3pt. contest itself can't be much more than pressing a button to pick up a ball, then pressing another button to fire (accounting for the proper release point), right?. Best of all, the button inputs for the 3pt. contest will likely all tie-in directly to what occurs on screen. Unless of course, 2K also implemented Guitar Controls for that mode as well.
If the 2K controls were interpreted as being too difficult, I feel the Live scheme (or something similar) would have been the way to go for 2K13. Dunk Contests are supposed to be fun, but control and a sense of achievement is fun too, so a slight learning curve is not the worst thing in the world. If I recall correctly, it didn't take too much effort or knowledge in Live to throw down some routine dunks. I know my then 9 and 7 year old brothers certainly had no difficulty picking up the system.
Basically, I think there were likely a lot of other manageable control options out there that would have created an approachable mode while not forfeiting all sense of control.