Hori Pad Ex2?

[Cheapskate]

I was thinking of getting a Hori Pad Ex2, after reading about how its got such a great D-pad and all that. Reviews are generally good, except I've read several now (recent ones even) where people have had similar problems with one of the thumbpads malfunctioning and registering a constant "down" (like back in the day when you'd turn a system on while accidentally holding a thumbstick in some direction, and it would register that position as being default until you reset the controller).

Has anyone here had similar problems? Or owns one and hasn't had any problems?