While we are on the subject of the game controller for the PC version, please allow FFXI to continue to receive controller input in windowed mode even when the FFXI application does not have the input focus. Trying to play FFXI in the windowed mode too often goes like this:

Okay, I need to check the wiki and see what to do next. I'll put my character on autorun.

*opens wiki page* Oh, I see I've autorun into an obstacle. *change window focus* *wait 2 seconds for FFXI to start responding to controller input again* *makes course correction*

Okay, back to the wiki. The details seem to be on a linked page, we'll just click through to that (taking the input focus)... Oh, I've autorun into something else again. *change window focus* *wait 2 seconds for FFXI to start responding to controller input again* *makes course correction*

Back to the wiki. Ok, read this, scroll down (stealing the input focus away again), read this, scroll down... Oops, monsters coming up. *change window focus* *wait 2 seconds for FFXI to start responding to controller input again* *makes course correction*

Ok. Back to the wiki. Oh, I see there's a quest that comes after this one. Let's just see what it is (stealing the input focus away AGAIN)... Oh, someone asked if I had a certain key item. Let me just open my key items menu and see if I do... *change window focus* *wait 2 seconds for FFXI to start responding to controller input again* *opens Key Items menu*

As you can see, trying to actually use the official windowed mode is an exercise in frustration. Get rid of the lag upon switching window focus, and never stop responding to the controller short of minimizing the window.