For me that begs the question though, what is gained by the layout being the way it is? If it were a compromise between adequate packaging strength based on whatever stress tests they did and the appeal of the unboxing experience for example, then fair enough. Maybe it’s just me that doesn’t find the featureless black rectangle of a powered-off LCD display that appealing.

In my general experience when I don’t have enough information to reason a decision like that - it was just to minimise cost.

How is the way Nintendo boxed them “weird”?

The display side of the unit faces out, covered only by a single cardboard layer. Stapling stuff to the box is definitely weird, but the box layout is too. Just not very resistant to shipping damage in general. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t have the unit facing upside down at least. Then the first thing you’d see upon opening would be the laser-etched Switch 2 logo.