If you like the feel of the 360 controller, but find the d-pad unresponsive, you can fix the problem yourself. Check this link:
http://www.ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/360dpadfix/360dpadfix.htm
You can fix a wired controller fairly easily. Wireless controllers are a bit more difficult; you'll need to special order the tool to open to casing.
There was also a guy at doacentral who would mod 360 controllers by replacing the d-pad with the d-pad from the old Xbox Controller S. Personally though, I wasn't too fond of the d-pad on the Controller S.








