That's not really a secret, that was how every CS and SS has been throughout the history of Soul Calibur - in the end, it's all muscle memory and practice...
I don't think it's cheap, nor is it cheating... do whatever works for you - that's not a programmable, at least... I just think it's awkward, that's all...
Well, that's when you throw in mix-ups... You know as well as I do that even if you buffer, doesn't mean that you have to actually perform the move... Study the opponent, if he's more entailed to defend himself against it, then don't do it...
On a Stick, I still get it from time to time if I throw in an extra 2, or even if I accidentally do 46466... It really depends on how fast you do it... You won't get an iCS, but you'll at least get a CS...
I use an unmodified SFIV Madcatz stick, so I believe it's a square gate... I think it really depends on the user... Personally, I don't really notice a difference, but I would believe the octagonal would be better...
Could be, but I always believed they were less precise due to your increased freedom of movement, that pros preferred it due to that increased freedom, and that the digital pad was more precise... but I'm beginning to believe that is untrue now that I'm actually getting 28284666 more often on...