People keep spamming "gamepad impossibru", I keep spamming WalkingDead who is top tier in PvP on PC and uses a regular Xbox controller.
It really is a matter of practice more than anything else.
I would advise against the TM HOTAS.4 even if it's the only option on consoles, simply because of its poor quality. Personally I also think the layout is better suited for airplanes but YMMV. I've had one for as long as they have been available, but I just prefer DS4 with its two analog sticks.
That is correct but full 6DOF controls are available on a gamepad just the same.
Console HOTAS has no numbers advantage over a gamepad because it's using the same I/O interface as a gamepad -- it can only do the four analog axes, four face buttons, the D-pad, and the triggers & bumpers. In fact DS4 provides also the four corners of the touchpad (and of course the analog touchpad itself, but this is rather underutilized in ED) which you don't get on the HOTAS.
The gamepad is fine if you commit to it. Still doesn't justify
not having KBAM support on consoles though since it's all on the devs (the console platforms aren't the limiting factor here). Some console games already do support KBAM, some even simultaneously with a gamepad. Not providing the optionality, especially in a game such as ED, is just poor UX.