jayl0ve wrote:BTW Sound how do you like that stick?? I'm seriously salivating over that thing right now, that looks like heaven, although perhaps I'm so used to the Xbox control stick now that I'd actually suck with a really nice arcade stick
The stick looks fantastic in real. With regards to how it plays, it certainly takes time to get used to, you need to be motivated and patient. Bare in mind, I have never used a joystick before (apart from occasional SF2 play in arcades as a kid). It took me a good few weeks to get to the level I was with a pad. Initially, you will get frustrated, lose to scrubs and lose a lot! You can't do your special moves, you jump when you simply want to walk, you can't block because you either crouch or jump, your right hand can't find the correct punch / kick buttons. The list goes on etc

Once you start getting used to it though, it is a lot of fun. Your left hand solely controls the movement, right hand solely for punches / kicks. Because of this, you can perform more difficult moves easier. Better rhythm with punches / kicks, to connect combos. More control on tapping moves (like Hundred hand slap etc). More potential overall. Saying that, I have played guys who only use the pad, and they can do everything on it!
I wish I knew SF4 better so we could talk about that game but honestly I just don't like it as much and therefore am not really familiar with it's quirks and 'secrets', at all.
Don't give up on SF4 though. I think it is so similar to SF2, if you play it with the same approach, you'd still do well. You are right, there are many additional things dash, Ex moves, tech throws, ultras etc. but they really are not as complicated as they sound. They seem complex at first, especially if you take it all in at once. After awhile, these new things are not difficult to execute and to understand. They add another level of strategy to think about.