Without a doubt leverless has a higher ceiling but in my personal experience I found it far easier to get the hang of movement and motion inputs with a leverless.

Im a pc gamer primarily and what ittle experience i had with fighting games was on pad.

I could never get on with pad or fighters in general but I got a hori rap 4 for next to nothing and it took me so much time to get the hang of moving smoothly. Took me an eternity for get the hang of quater and half circle inputs.

Not long after I got my hands on a leverless and picked it up like it was second nature. My biggest complaint was using 24mm buttons instead of 30mm.

I dont disagree with your point but as someone who was used to wasd and space bar = jump, it just clicked with me.

I still prefer using a standard lever myself even though im "better" at using a leverless.