The OG Steam Controller didn't really fail though. Valve stopped production and sold the remaining stock because of a patent lawsuit over the rear paddles. With more time on market it probably would have grown and evolved.
I attribute this to the fact that they're privately held.
Valve heard everyone hating on the og controller and seem to have fixed it. Same for the steam machine. I'm less certain about the headset, but if anyone has the hutzpah to make VR happen, my money is on Valve.
Valve added a second joystick to the controller. That's utter insanity in today's market. The expected play is to find a way to force consumers to buy the single stick, and a subscription, somehow. Or gaslight everyone into thinking single stick is somehow better, actually.
It's just crazy to me to see a big company acting with rationality, sense, and forethought