That's pretty much the whole point of Xbox 360 D-pad sucking, that you get those diagonal directions. They don't help too much and you can't be too precise to them, but instead they can be annoying when you want to go diagonally, but instead you go sideways or up/down. These classic 4-directional d-pads are simpler but more effective.

IF ya ask me it's either Xbox One or DualShock 4, the latter which you can switch between XInput and DirectInput with a third-party program.

Trying to use a 360 controller made using skills in Valdis Story totally unplayable. So yes i agree the PS2 controller D-Pad was much better.

Yes.

It is if you fall in the correct demographic. :P

I guess it then depends completely on the game, whether you need the diagonals or not. D--pads in general seem quite poor by design, whether they are round or 4-way, as you use them merely by tilting your big fat thumb. That's why they are so much poorer than proper digital arcade sticks where the diagonals are easy to achieve and don't cause any problems.

I wonder how you can make some of those 720 degree rotational moves in Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo with such a 4-way D-pad? I already wondered the same before if trying to use a mere keyboard (arrow keys) to play the same game (PC version), which is probably even harder.

I had a Logitech F510 which worked great for close to 5 years before finally succumbing to old age. Currently using a 360 controller, but if I had to pick anything other than the 360, it would be the F510 again.

Unfortunately the F510 is discontinued, i'd probably try it otherwise.

From what I recall, the F310 is the F510 without rumble, and the F710 is a wireless F510. See if any of those fits your needs.

Yeah, i'll likely give the F310 a try. Hopefully I won't have any of the analog stick deadzone issues or the analog sticks being stuck in one position that some others have had from what i've seen online. If the d-pad is better it may be worth it though.

I never had any D-pad issues with my 510.

You would roll your thumb around them which shouldn't be a problem unless you have the hands of a starving Ethiopian child.

Are there any drivers for the Playstation pads that let you use the full features of them. In the case of the PS3 it would be the analog face buttons and in the PS4 it would by the touchscreen plus the motion controls?

Well, there seem to be some drivers that allow you to use PS4's touchpad flying around the net, but it seems that they are in alpha/beta state yet.