2016 was a bad year. New iPhone has been the worst selling one in relative numbers since the iPhone. New MacBooks has several issues and controversial choices, while not bringing anything substantial to the table. New Watch changes are so small, nobody noticed an update.
1. What do you mean relative numbers?
2. Any stats to back this up, as I've seen conflicting data?
Regardless, of course it's not going to be a big seller. It's the 10th(?) generation of a device everybody already owns. It's also the third year running the design hasn't changed at all (presumably as they want to make a big splash on next years 10th anniversary).
As for the MacBook's, in my experience ordinary people don't really put all that much decision making into buying a computer. They want something that looks nice and almost any computer on the market has the power they need for Word, Facebook, and email. The touch bar is something all my non-tech friends think is really cool and makes them want a new MacBook.
The Watch update may not have amounted to much but you're completely ignoring watchOS 3 - that was huge. They managed to make a pretty crappy device really good with only a software update. Early adopters don't need to splash out another load of cash on a piece of hardware, they can get most of the benefit through a free software update.
While I agree there has been nothing mind blowing I also haven't seen anything mind blowing on an Android device or software update, a PC, or any wearable device. Also, I really struggle to find things that my iPhone/Mac don't do that I need them to do. What substantial new features did you seek from the new MacBook?
New iPhone 7 Data Suggests Sales Slower Than iPhone 6S - http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2016/10/03/iphone-7-s...
[edit] You have actually more data here: https://www.statista.com/statistics/263401/global-apple-ipho...
If you compare 2016 Q4 to 2015 Q4, iPhone sales are retracting. Same for 2016 Q3 against 2015 Q3. I don't get what the debate is. It's public data.
The debate is that these public data don't tell much, if anything at all. Slower sales than 6S is not bad, since that had record sales anyway. Second, Xmas are not yet here. Third, there are also other news, like:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/11/28/apple-killing-it-i...
Or the news that the new MacBook Pro retina had the most orders than any MBP on its arrival.