Raises hand for Aussies, I have the Hori SC4 US stick from playasia for 360. Works without issue, from what I've read they used different parts eg stick and buttons in the JPN and US sticks but they not be the case these days. Yet to find a local distributor for the Mad-as-catz gear so importing looks the only option. If you go the Standard FightStick (like you have an option, 3000 TE made.. disappointing but I understand) the Sanwa parts that are in the TE can be purchased and installed with relative ease. I don't think you have to be hardcore or oldschool to enjoy the arcade sticks. The controller just uses mapped buttons for things like grab (lp+lk) because we only have 1 thumb and 4 fingers, either way as long as you enjoy the game.

While we're at it Gamespot lets compare games on XBLA, PSN, VC and MAME. I'm sure the PC can do better on the classics as well. You can't for one second take this serious, I'm betting GS had a bet that they could increase traffic to the site by starting a flamewar to end all flamewars. Compare a PC that was at the time the consoles were released so you've got a snapshot of what it 'was' like and then maybe I'll get onboard with the notion of what a machine (with unspecified OS) is capable of on todays tech. I could get 1920x1200 on an old sh!t.box but it would be at 4fps and pointless, like this article.