I seriously think there is a difference between stingy and smart. If you have so much love for a game to piss in your pants about details on a controller, I think you should be spending decent money (20~30 dollars) on a brand new official Nintendo controller. Serously, you cheap out and buy crap, you lose in the end. Does the word "worthy investment" ring a bell? Honestly, I bet you guys can get that money holding off junk food for a week.
Just think of the quality of fun you would have with a good controller and the amount of hours it lasts. It's really not that expensive IMO. I mean, go compare yourself to those arcade fighting game kids... sheesh... a buck for a round of SF4?