Just want to thank >>11834415 and >>11835691 for their help on figuring the tape out in addition to our local tape autist (>>11824469) for getting the pad locations down. The d-pad on my RG34XX now functions monumentally better. It won't detect on very light presses but detects on normal presses every single time and I'm not getting any false diagonals whatsoever anymore. Would highly recommend it, took like 40 minutes to open the thing, get the tape cut to the right size, place it decently enough, and reassemble it all correctly.

I would recommend pulling the tape back ever so slightly from the center of the button since center feels like it sometimes doesn't get the input on light pushes, but normal pressure always gets an input.