The problem with the xbox controller is that the d-pad is a d-saster.
My ideal controller:
Gamecube ABXY layout.
Razer Onza mouseclick ABXY buttons.
Gamecube triggers.
2x Gamecube z button.
360 controller shape.
360 analogue sticks.
Sega Megadrive d-pad.
Programmable tertiary bumpers like Onza.
I don't really care about home/start/select.
And who cares that Nintendo ripped off the shape of the 360 controller? Microsoft ripped off the analogue stick from Nintendo and the ABXYLR buttons from Nintendo. Nintendo only stole a shape, and it's the one that all third parties are using now, even for playstation.
That's a bit different from "We took a wiimote and put a ball on it". Or [Wii U announcement] -> *1 Year later* [Microsoft SmartGlass]. Miis -> Xbox Live Avatars. Smash Bros -> OHLOLTOTALLYNOTARIPOFFOFSMASHBROS.
Nintendo make huge innovations and then have that taken by their rivals. They rarely take anything from their rivals and when they do it's always something really basic like, e.g. achievements (but improved!), which is now pretty much MANDATORY if they want to release a successful console, since Steam, Sony, MS all use it, and "the shape of a controller", when everything important about the controller was INVENTED by Nintendo. They only copy ideas when it's become an industry standard and they're forced to do so.