I get that gamepads are a great universal interface for machinery control. It makes total sense to me. But BY GOD, couldn't they at least have gotten a WIRED controller? What if that's what happened to the sub? They forgot to charge the controller? This whole thing is just so fucking insane.
Connectors can wear out. I'd be more worried about the pots than the wireless signal, it's not a hall effect unless they modified that too. And I doubt the controller is relevant, there is a backup.