the TE stick is amazing, i had a few of the cheaper ones and you can really tell a difference in the way the buttons feel and how the stick moves. I USED to be a pad fighter but made myself use an arcade stick, Its hard at first but then everything just kinda clicks. It took me about 2 weeks to really get the feel for it and if you use charge chars it makes pulling moves off SO much easier!! (bought mine last year when Frys had em on sale for $90)
EDIT: Ravien, the fight pads are also good, i used one up untill i wanted to get good with a stick.