Well, his name isn't Staffboy, it's Gambit.

So i for one think that the cards are way more important to his persona then the staff. That and his eyes. The cards because his name is Gambit, and the eyes because they are just way cool.
I for one don't think he lost his powers, but even if he did, Gambit is an interesting character all on his own. Most of the time I even forget he has powers, since he reliez heavily on his other skills, namely charm and fighting. He's not just a mutant that happens to be a thief.
He's a theif that happens to be a mutant.