I don't think DM implied that they were.

Investors may only care about the bottom line, but I don't think the individuals that actually create these games do so primarily for profits. I doubt the original Final Fantasy was intended to make Square a boat load of money. I also doubt the innovations that the series brought in future installments were put in because 'it would sell more copies'. I think the majority of developers make games because they love to do it and they take pride in their product by making it something they actually want the world to experience.

I think FFXIII-2 was made for two reasons. 1) SE is struggling from a fiscal standpoint and a sequel is much cheaper to produce than a start from scratch project, will sell millions (FFXIII lovers will buy it, FFXIII haters may buy it to see if it is better), and is therefore a much safer and more profitable option than making something new. 2) I really think Kitase thinks FFXIII was a brilliant game. I don't think he understands why people didn't like it. He thinks the reasons why people didn't like it are very specific and simplistic. Because he wants everyone to realize how great the FFXIII world/battle system/characters/etc. are, he's made a sequel that addresses all of our 'minor' concerns. To him the sequel will validate the entirety of FFXIII.

Or maybe they did this on purpose. Produce a main FF title with obvious flaws so that you can justify a sequel that 'corrects' these flaws. Then you can make millions on two games instead of one! SE has found the video game equivalent of releasing the final Harry Potter/Twilight movie in two parts.