Sorry man... I've played all the way through dozens of PS1, PS2 and PS3 games... neither one of my two primary controllers (I have 5, but honestly I only use 2 unless friends are over) has even so much as missed a button press, and those dozens of games have included just about every action title (read: button-masher) ever made.
Sony controllers are rock solid. My WaveBird is also solid. I will shed a tear the day it goes bad on me, since I can't get another new one. My 360 controllers are also holding up nicely. I have to say that, in my hundreds of games (you read that right -- its part my job), and tens of thousands of gaming hours, I have only lost a couple controllers ever (some cruddy PC gamepads/joysticks).
First-party controllers are usually made to last. ...but you do have to treat them well. No offense intended, but I think I know what your problem might be. If you buy a MadCatz or Pelican, etc... well.. you're asking for it. You get what you pay for.







