But I do play fighting games. Except Smash, cos that's a brawler and too random for my taste.

I LOVE FIGHTING GAMES (Street Fighter especially)!!! So I guess you don't want my opinion lol

A fight stick isn't required at all.  There are people on all levels that use controllers.  I use a controller. Some of my friends use fight sticks.  Fighting with a fight stick when you don't know how to play fighters isn't exactly productive.  Then, you'd have to learn how to properly handle the stick and learn the game too?  Way too much of a load on you, dude.  You start with a controller.  Learn the game, then move to a stick IF you feel like it's something you want.  It's not required.

Yeah, I've used a controller before (GC Controller for Tatsunoko vs Capcom) but I really don't like it very much. The GC controller had a lot of good things about it (button placement primarily), but honestly, the PS3 Analog Stick and D-Pad are both terrible for this (imo). Just trying to play a fighting game with a PS3 controller feels terrible. 

I don't see anything wrong with starting with fight sticks. It would be equivalent to learning on arcade machines...except I can do it in the comfort of my house.

But, the friends thing is the main thing holding me back.

I only really play Tekken as my main fighting game (and PS All-stars) I am not a great fighting player just cause I don't have the dedication to learn all the combos and count frames and all the in depth stuff to destroy.

I play them! lol

Because I'm not a fighter and I want to feel the awesomeness of a fight. Dead or alive, DBZ and MK are my favorite fighting games because I don't care about balance or blah blah, I'm a casual in that genre! I just want flashy moves :P

totally off topic I know.

Any PS controller, is great for fighting games.  PS1,2,3 or 4 controllers are all fine.  The gamecube controller, on the other hand, isn't good for fighters, because you have several buttons of different shapes and sizes that just don't work idealy with fighters

No, a PS3's analog stick, or any analog stick for any fighting game, should never be used.  They're all bad when it comes to fighting games.  Also bad is any right handed player who needs to do complete motions with a left hand.  playing on an SNES controller wasn't all too great.  I'd imagine the Wii U control pad is cool, though.

Any controller that has a responsive, direct d-pad and 6 buttons that your right hand can get to will be fine.

The thing about a fight stick, is that they can cost upwards of 100+ dollars.  Not everyone wants to drop that much money on something just to learn how to play.

I find them really boring And repetitive.

I liked playing them, but learning combos, the advanced techs were too hard. I play Smash though.

Well I disagree

The GC Controllers button layout was perfect for a three button fighter like TvC because of the pattern of the buttons and the allignment for pressing multiple buttons at the same time. The diamond shaped button layout on the other hand I don't like, because the flow of button presses is in a half circle instead of a straight line, and the movements arent as natural. Of course, not all fighting games use that fighting system...

Also, the PS3 D-Pad is just terrible imo.

I also realize that the fight stick is an investment, and like I said, if I had people to play with, I would gladly pay. As is, I just don't see much point in learning on a controller and having no one to play with.