The main failure of the original controller was the lack of two thumbsticks (just like the PSP). While the track pads made a lot of PC games playable with a controller some games were worse with one thumbstick.

This controller fixes my main compliant, has a dedicated d-pad, and what looks like better track pads. So it'll be perfect for playing around 90% of games with one controller.

The original controller is pretty awesome. It was also really really cheap. I love them because it's the only controller for playing games that were not designed for a controller.

Not sure if you're trolling, or have been living under a rock. This new controller is the same as the Steam Deck layout, which has been extremely successful and well received.

The original controller was great for its innovation. Especially when you got used to it all.

However, the build quality was very lacklustre. The back paddle on mine died in about 200 hours of gaming. After I fixed that the shoulder button went after another 100 or so hours. Fixed that. But within about 500 hours it was totally dead.

Whereas the 2nd hand ds4 I got from eBay that I fitted with my custom made back paddles gave me 2000 hours of rocket league before I had to do any tinkering.
I did over 4000 hours of RL in total and only had to replace the left thumbstick and put o rings over the shoulder button internals.

Do I want the new steam controller, yes. Would I buy one, no.

The lack of twin thumbsticks are what killed the original.

This one is better, but aside from better trackpad placement, it doesn't offer a lot above the PS5 controller, which a lot of people already have.

Still, they sold out, so mission successful I suppose. I've no doubt the same thing will happen when I try and get a Steam Frame.

It's like trackball mice, it just takes practice to get used to. Next to no one outside logitech makes them either but they are still genuinely good if it's what you need.