Nice post OP, I agree with you is ignorance with a grain of salt, though.
I'm OK with a the controller, in some games I prefer it over XIM, like: RDR2, BO4. which allows me to see clearly the strengths and weaknesses of each device.
Like you said, people think that M&KB with XIM is identical to true native mouse input; can't blame them they don't have one. When they ask me how performs, I explain that is translating the movement and is limited due turn limit on consoles, I do the analogy of comparing to an old 90's mouse with a ball instead of a optical sensor, to give them some contrast, or a steering wheel with hydraulic system vs raw, anyways while joking they say is cheating.
I told them cheating is a big stretch, it give me an edge YES, but is not cheating. None of them plays with bare regular controller, they some have scuffs or kontrolfreaks... so I point that out, why you play by using those?, they say:
"Well, is more comfortable, I have big hands, feel more precision..."
- Yes that's exactly my point, those items gives you an edge over a regular controller,
same XIM does for me.
I'm not wall-hacking, not instant killing, that is cheating and no need skill.
And there is another layer, XIM users accusing me and others, of cheating because due the use of a scripting/macro device.
In all honesty, when it comes to macros and scripting the ones that I do is to simplify clunky mechanics and quality of life. I mean, not bragging but all the ideas I came up for Fortnite were adopted by Epic, I just give you a 9 months head start, so now that are official in the game, are not cheating?, hehehe no it never was cheating, was having the edge.
Scripting devices make things automatically, and that's all. Granted a hard skilled maneuver, can be made automatically by pressing a button, this type of shortcut (be able to do the move, without earning or learn it by hand) it can be cheap, or some things like jitter that are definitely giving you an unfear advantage.
Every single athlete that competes will do what ever they can to win a medal. If you think they are not using drugs or performance enhancers to outperform what they blessing genetics can to have the edge. If you don't know it or don't what to admit it well, is your choice. Same like all your favorite competitive players or streamers, they are not using cheap hardware a gaming pc from walmart, right?, they use the best, and macros and scripts etc.
But this is video-games, I see as a valve to relieve stress; I'm not tryharding 100% only at my job to support my family. I want to play with my friends on their consoles, joking around thorough the voice chat and have a good time.
XIM allows me to enjoy my gaming the way I want and with the people I care.