Its symmetric by design. This is because PS is an international brand, so it should support as many gamers as possible and be easy to pick up.

Xbox is an american focused brand, its controller is designed to support right handed gamers.

DRM is about your rights to digital content you have.  Things you download or that come in digital form, like a program file.    The whole DRM thing last summer was restrictions on you using Digital Data that is in your possesion.

That is not wat this is. This is Backend software within the consoles operating system that limits HARDWARE use, its all about proprietary hardware.  Another term we could use is Hardware rights management.   Unless ofcourse you downloaded your controller, in which case im sure alot of people would have questions as you how you actually managed to do that.

And your continued use to call it a gimmick is borderline bating,  it has been used extensively in games, that you cant just remap.   How would you remap the directional swipes in KZ?  you could remap the push aspect of it,  but what about the share button?  youd be missing a button.    and for games like ff14 or warthunder,   having a touchpad mouse is an awesome thing to have as an extra.     You are really grasping at straws to try to create a complaint against the ps4.  

The only thing I need my d-pad to do is acurrately read my input. Pre-2010 xbox 360 controllers, you press left and end up going down. Yes, those d-pad's were TERRIBLE. Post 2010 360 controllers do exactly what I request and that is all I need. I actually prefer the adjustable d-pad 360 controllers over the XB1's d-pad. The XB1 d-pad doesn't stick out far enough for my liking.

From what I have heard the only reason why the xbox voice commands are so "useful" is because ms specifically designed the interface to be used with kinect. The XB1 interface is designed to make you hate using a controller, that was a decision, that is not the way it needs to be. That is called creating a problem then selling the solution. That is the same way I feel devs are approaching the touchpad, they create gameplay scenarios that would have been perfectly fine being left on the cutting room floor, but now gamers feel those things are necessary, when in reality, they've just created that perception to justify a gimmick.

Right handed, FPS centric and with bigger hands than other ethinicities.

Just to comment I have no problem with you preferring another controller that is fine. But this is not an Sonys' issue this seems like a personal issue. Which is fine seeing as you want to play with the controller you want. Also outside of maybe shooters there is no reason to say the XB controller is better than the PS4 controller.
The d-pad is still much better on the PS controllers and milers better for fighting games which is what I love to play.

The d-pad was improved on he 360 and on the XB1 but it is still not as good as the PS4 d-pad. Anyway I hope you figure something out that works for you!

Ok so it's just regarding input error not the easiness of use and applicability in several genres.

Well voice commands aren't used just to navigate through the OS, but since I don't on an X1 I can't say it sucks... my brother likes it the way it is and quite a lot he uses the controller only. But I do agree that only playing ISS the gamepad could be done with different inputs if so desired (like hold L1 and use right analog movements or any other thing, or just left out to a prompt) and also agree that both cases are non-necessary burdens created to promote what they want to sell.

Almost any game with 3rd person gameplay I have found to work best with the 360 controller over the DS4 since having the promoted stick tends to somehow end up feeling "better" for being the stick to move with. I have found this especially true (that the general configuration is better) for games that can end up being very dependant on layout for ease of gameplay like Dark Souls, Smash Bros (hence why I will be getting the gamecube adapter), and so on. The positioning of the d-stick and analog allow for multiple ways of accessing the d-stick functionality from either hand while continuing to move.

Likewise, I have always found that the gamecube controller has been superior to its contemporaries (DS2, Xbox brick).

Previous gens would have mapped that same kz functionality to a shoulder button triggered pop up inventory wheel. It is a gimmick, just like sixaxis, just like kinect. My only fear is that sony first party won't quickly abandon this one like they did for sixaxis since ps4 is in the lead right now. But so far I have seen nothing that couldn't be done better with buttons. If the touchpad is so important then how do you explain seven console generations in which amazing games were released without ever needing a touchpad? 

And like I said, the touchpad could be cool but its in a bad place on the controller.

the shoulder buttons are all used up already.   the touch pad allows for a whole wack of new inputs,  that can be done with the fingers without much effort, it doesnt interfear with the way you hold a controller, and your not dancing around the living room and having it miss movements. when all the other buttons are used, allowing more input is a bonus. and Its not getting abandoned at all because gamer feed back has been very positive, and it continues to be used in more creative ways.

and its not in a bad place, its in the exact perfect spot because it leaves everything else where they should be.  the options button isnt akward at all.   sure maybe the first hour you play your used to its old spot so you go to hit it and its not there,  but its new spot makes alot of sense, i never touch it accidentally and have never missed touching out when i went to hit it.

You are basically grasping at straws trying to find something to bash.

Well that makes perfect sense to appeal to you and the handful of others.  While they are at it, I would like to use my super nintendo controller on my PS4.  I might be the only one who would want that, but it would be ludicrous if you they didn't appeal to all consumers.