I know this basic CP layout has been copied several times on these forums and I've never seen a complaint about the trackball being too cramped.
Its my opinion that people often do not like to admit their mistakes.. and so do not post them.
I would guess, that a lot of these people simply adjust the trackball sensitivity to try to counter the error.
As such, more sensitivity can allow you to roll the ball far less... to get the desired game movement.
The problem with this.. is that you reduce the amount of control and interaction. You cant get as true of an angle.. and you cant get the same kind of acceleration and speed control.. in such a short frew milimeters of a stroke.
Furthermore... the games difficulty becomes far too easy as a result. Often trackball games are supposed to make you work up a good sweat. You have to roll them with ferocity, to get the character up to top speeds... and maintaining that, is no easy task. But its awesome fun. A good example is Atari XO football. Its no "Looker", but I played the real deal a few years back.. and it was really wild fun trying to move that 4"? diameter ball like a madman. More typically known, is Marble Madness. The ball is never intended to move that fast, due to the levels being small... so you have to roll crazy fast to counter the simulated heavy mass of the ball.
In a golf or bowling game.. to get a very hard maximum powered strike... you would need awesome acceleration. This meant spinning the crap out of the ball. It wasnt easy to get the maximum result. However, when you increase the sensitivity.. anyone can attain the maximum shot power.. every single time. The game them becomes too easy.
Id also guess, that people instead are merely using it as a menu / selection device. Or use to control PC games. Rather than games like Golden Tee, Shuuz, Capcom Bowling...etc.
When you know how the game is supposed to play, I think it helps. I feel too many people have never played these games.. and so are not really familiar with how the controls should work... as well as how the games should feel, react, and be set up. It does not help, that mame has no form of accuracy of calibration of these controls.
As for the Snark... its usually meant with mean spirit. Especially with certain members here.
Good to know you can take the hook. Too bad it has to be thrown.
As for buttons.. no need to explain.
For me, I found that Concave buttons are not a good choice for curved button layouts. Its more suited to japanese flat or convey buttons.. so you can lay your hands flat. However, concave buttons feel better to me.. but, you cant keep your fingers flat to use them well. Instead, you bend the fingers at the knuckles. This causes your hand spread to be reduced.. but it also gives you better lever action.. for more ease of repeated pressing. I found the curve to be a real problem.. because I kept losing my place.. and my fingers often hit the edges of the button.. which is not comfortable at all.
Additionally, you may consider one of those buttons to use a real old skool leafswitch button. These are really great for Rapidfire games like Halleys Comet, Galaga, Satans Hollow, Asteroids Deluxe..etc. You can press them to where they made contact... then lightly vibrate with almost zero effort at all.. for an amazing fire rate... as well as far reduced physical strain. I cant imagine playing a game like Halleys Comet without one.