this is a weird argument, sony controllers have neved had a D-pad the middle area is missing i hate it yet i've never heard anyone complain.Idk the dpad missing its middle pivot makes it more difficult to get accurate inputs when they are really crucial. Don't know why so many people seem to think it's fine. Have they never felt a proper dpad, or maybe they don't game enough to realize the difference between the center pivot of older controllers versus a flat dpad. Go between an older Nintendo dpad and the current pro controller. You should feel a fairly dramatic difference between the two in terms of precise directional input.
the d-pad on both the wii u pro controller and the switch pro controller both aren't that good and are the same the switch pro controller is better in many other ways.
like texture, thumbstick placement, weight and just how well it works.
that said i disagree with mech and think nintendo might make the wii u pro controller compatible with the switch they've been doing everything else right so far, gamecube compatibility was a complete surprise and they made no money off that.