So ... if the headlines about Gamestop not accepting the game in trade-in is even true, are they also not accepting trade-ins on Super Monkey Ball 3DS?

Do they know that progress in that game similarly can not be "reset"?

It's the same exact functionality. Why would they treat that game any differently?

That aside, while everybody is certainly entitled to their own opinion, and nobody should feel obligated to buy or play this game for whatever reason they see fit, I can't help but feel that a tremendous portion of the gaming public's current opinion of this game has been drastically manipulated by sensationalist/reactionary gaming press.

The internet is a powerful powerful thing, and this is perfect evidence of how something that is not even completely fundamentally understood by many can cause a MASS sweeping change in public opinion.