I actually liked the 64 controller. It was out there, but it was a nice controller once you got used to it.
As far as the Gamecube controllers being cheap? Yeah they feel different, but they are very hard to break.
When I first got my Wavebird last year I got mad at a game and threw the Wavebird across the room. It bounced off the couch, and hit the brick fireplace pretty hard. Left a small scratch on the controller and it still works great. Thats actually the first time I have done that to any controller, but that one puzzle stage on Mario Sunshine was about to drive me insane.
Ive always had no problem with Nintendo stuff, they seem to make excellent quality items.