I think the problem is you have this "console war vs pc war" problem which cause's all the arguments....If you look at it like this, take someone who has been on the gamepad for say there whole up bringing, pit them agaisnt myself (a K/M player) and tbh if they have been on the pad that long they will put up a damn good fight! i've seen it recently on UT3 on the ps3,
so although i firmly stand by mouse and keyboard, the game pad isnt that bad...if you know how to use it.
however i still think M/K will slaughter a pad player