So on one hand we have the playstation controller, which has been almost the same design since the ps1. Make a huge step forward in design, which by the way was what many playstation gamers were asking for,  a change.Many has always said that the ps controllers were almost perfect. 

So by your words, "vastly improved" means what ???

M$ had a chance to remove the battery pack in their controller, but chose not to. Their were concerns about the d-pad on the 360 controller and again they hav a chance to improve it, but again did not. If the average gamer looks at the 360 controller alongside the XBOne controller, most would not even know the difference. 

On a side note,  we have the Nintendo controllers which has changed design almost every console release, from the wii-u pad, the wii mote, gamecube controller, N64 controller, and so on. IMO, that is one of the faults of Nintendo. they need to figure out a stable design for their consumers. In their last 5 consoles, there has been 5 drasticly different controller designs. As a gamer, this is one of my biggest gripes of them/.

It's not a combination of the 360 and dual shock controllers, please... The ds 4 is the ds3 with better triggers, and got stretched out simply because it had to to make room for the touch pad. End of story. Good controller, Sonys best by far, but essentially the same thing from 15 years ago when it first came out a anps1 controller.

Why are there so many "this is the best" and "x > y" topics on here when it's all just opinions and personal taste?
I never liked the DualShock (DS) best due to various (personal) reasons (weight, size (my hands are too big so I can't hold it properly without my hands hurting after a while), the sticks until DS3, the d-pad feels sloppy to me (even the DS4 one which people claim to be amazing)). There's no "best" controller for me. Gamecube was perfect for my hands and the buttons it had were good, dpad sucked though and Z was quite off. Xbox and Xbox 360 feel great but have issues with dpad etc. SNES was amazing but like DS it's too small nowadays, as a kid it was perfect of course.

Then you're obviously not paying attention subtleties even though I might have slightly exaggerated by saying its the PS3 and PS3 controller in one. In retrospect I would say it was kind of like them both in one, but more of a hint of what mattered in the 360 than a full blend. What I meant to say was I feel like the PS4 controller as far as ergonomics has the shooters covered from the back grip to trigger area covered similarly to the 360 where it counts. Its much, much better for shooters. Akin to the 360 the back grip has less of an arch than the DS3 which allows the hand to properly rest on the slight curve in the mold rather than a dramatic arch.  I dont feel the old DS feeling when I touch the controller. PS4 controller has a more circular palm grip which fits to the hand, which no DS controller had before. The Xbox one also changed the shape to a better form fit for the palm than even the DS4, but the button layouts were left wanting after such a great design change for the better. If you were to put the DS3 and the 360 controller together that would be essentially the PS4. The tip of the wings of the bottom of the controller also feel more rounded  rather than going into a cone like shape like they used to now its like a cylinder. The DS4 also feels larger in your hand than the DS3 and more shapely to the touch. Pay attention to ergonomics. If a third party were to put rubber grips on it that DS4 it would feel almost perfect, especially if it had gel grips. The Xbox one controller doesnt even need a grip sleeve because its formed perfectly for the hand (even better than the 360 in that way) but the DS4 benefits more overall after that little adjustment.

I would have to say yes, though I still hold a special place in my heart for the SNES controller, the Genesis 6 button controller, the Logitech PS2 wireless controller, and the Logitech wired PS2 controller.

Indeed you are correct, everyone has different opinions, but as much as a game may suck, controls, graphics, playability ie Sonic The Hedgehog (the remake), there will always be a best, ie Sonic 2.....

There is always soething that is better than something else. FACT.

And as you stated, you loved the Gamecube controller, so in essence, thats YOUR GREATEST of all time, RIGHT ?

When the Genesis 6 button controller was released, OMG, I was in in controller heaven......

Why in the world is the N64's controller on here and the Gamecube's not?

Sorry.

I did see a few gamecube lovers in the posts too.......... 

GC master race!