>>717092298
No. An octagonal gate doesn't remove any analog function from the stick, it just adds notches to the plastic outer shell so you can direct the movement precisely which makes it more accurate to control in 3D space.

It's useful for me specifically in old platformers and especially in Zelda where Goron rolling has to be done in an exact direction during certain points in the game and a smooth ring has never allowed me to actually complete those segments comfortably.