i might just try one of those. I never had a huge issue with the Dpad cause i never really need it but its good to know there is options

The 360 D-Pad sucks no doubt. It's great that you got it to be decent. I don't know why so many fighting game fans are so against the idea of using the analog stick though. There are tons of fighting game veterans who adapted to the analog stick in SF4 and BlazBlue. Some are using arcade sticks but certaintly not all. If you really like fighting games though, there's more than enough on the 360 (including XBLA) to justify purchase of an arcade stick though.

No, no PS3 here, my best friend has one though, and I have PS1 and PS2, so i'm used to DualShock (I still call the buttons O X /\ [])
It's true that i could try to learn to use the stick, but I'd rather have a d-pad that doesn't suck. If I can improve it at home using scissors, sandpaper and a peanuts can; I don't understand how can MS not bother to change it somehow, the controller is PERFECT in every other aspect, I specially LOVE the triggers..
Well, anyways, do this, seriously: it will greatly improve your experience in games that are heavy on d-pad use, it doesn't cost a thing and it's rather easy...
Feel free to ask away if you have any doubts, I had a few and I had to work the details on my own, but it works like a charm now!

Which method did you do? I am too lazy to read, but it sounds like it worked. Might have to give it a try because the D-Pad does suck balls.

I used the sandpaper + peanut can method, only i used scissors to speed up the removal of plastic then sandpaper to give it a nice finish, then inserted the thin plastic membrane (made of a peanuts can cover) between the membrane and the hard plastic d-pad, reassembled everything, works like a charm

follow the guide from instructables, it worked for me, feel free to ask if you miss something

Cool, thanks. I will give this a try.