I made a thread about this but I'll help this one out! My preference is a fight stick, but I'm very neutral about the two sides. A fight stick doesn't make one frame Akira moves or EWGFs on Tekken any easier. Don't expect a total change in skill when switching between the two. Pick either one!
I prefer 360 dpad. Never bought a stick, and dpad was the only option like ten years, so its what I'm comfortable with. Can't even play DOA with the thumbstick, it feels wrong, unless I need to do full 360 motions like izuna drop.