The problem with d-pad and targeting is I have to release the cross bar. I use mixed so I don't have to hold l2/r2 down while i'm doing my moves. because of that I use L1/R1 to target, it's significantly easier.

Other problem is, if you change auto-run to R1 instead of L1, it makes the targeting backwards, so you hitting L1 moves to the right target, and R1 moves to the left target.

These seem like very basic things to be an oversight. I can't imagine why they'd do it like this.