Yeah, I don't see it as a big deal, but you're right with 'hardcore gamers' not wanting to re-learn how to play video games due to a new controller.
But, just as the N64 controller was bashed, the thumb stick is a huge success.
And, just as I believe teh NES ushered in the first major directional pad (from the previous joystick Atari as the major source), people cried at first, but loved the new way of handling a game.
All I know is while it took some getting used to with MP3, it's sick in a great way now. I've played thousands of hours of Halo1/2, but MP3 feels more natural.
I guess this is why people at my school network refused to play Halo 1 when asked on Halo 2... it was harder for them to play, and once they played Halo 1 with us again (teams) and got royally owned, they quit back to Halo 2, something that I believe requires LESS SKILL.
Less Skill.... if you don't have the skill for the controller (yet) hardcore gamers don't want to spend the dissatisfying time to invest in learning it.
The last 10 years has been the "instant-satisfaction era of video games".
Numbers: Checker Players > Halo Players
Checkers Age and replayability > Halo Age and replayability
Therefore, Checkers > Halo
So, Checkers is a better game than Halo.
