That is quite the choice. Personally, I'd go with the Wii U. It would probably be cheaper than a nice tablet and it's got some really great games. My wife and I are playing Super Mario 3D World right now and it's incredible. So much fun!
We certainly have a wealth of options and choices 
Flight Control is also available for the PC and the PS3 (though that version might be Move-exclusive, I don't remember), so maybe you can play it one of those ways...?
*gasp!* And so am I! 
Yeah, I'm sure it was born of difficulty with controller (or lack thereof) inputs.
Yes, something like that, where the book plays the part of the game master (or whatever they're called).
This is the first one I've tried. I want to play the Sorcery! games but, you know, I'm a cheapskate lol
Gamebooks from back in the day were basically single-player pen and paper RPGs. You'd have stats and armor and you'd roll dice of various size and sides for combat and stat checks and whatnot. The Fighting Fantasy series is probably the most well known. This one, like I said, is very nearly a choose your own adventure, especially since it actively mimics a physical book. There are some really elaborate digital conversions of old game books, though, like the Sorcery! games.
Hmm, well, that doesn't bode well then. The turn-based combat in FFVI isn't going to change your mind about things. The story tackles more mature themes than many games of its ilk—even other Final Fantasies—and the characters are great, though I can't say if that would justify the whole package for you. The music, of course, is just wonderful.
If you're interested, I'd say check out the new release of FFVI for iOS. There are a few things that old time fans will gripe about, but it's a pretty good port (more of an expanded rerelease, really) and it makes some concessions to modern game design, like quick saves, the ability to speed up battles, and a hint system to help you get to the next important spot. Check out this review for more specifics. I think FFVI is a game anyone can appreciate if they really invest themselves and if you're going to play only one JRPG, that's what it should be. Well, and maybe Chrono Trigger 
The famous Opera Scene is from FF VI, which is, you know, the best Final Fantasy ever. You should totally play that one.
