TL;DR: avoid real XBox controllers unless you're sure you can talk the Pi into it.

Somebody suggested I check out "8bitdo" controllers and Amazon delivered a "Pro 2" within a couple hours (I didn't ask - it just showed up quick). Set the mode to X (so says google), hit the pair button, couple clicks in the pi and you're basically done. I've only tried it on the telescope simulator but Ekos picked it right up automatically. I just enabled joystick in the simulator options and bam, done.

I think this is less "8bitdo is awesome" and more "XBox controllers don't play well with others." No complaints about the Pro 2 so far, though.

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