I know the controls for FPS are worse on console, but I can't spend the money to keep upgrading my computer for these games. It also doesn't include an awesome XBL friends list that I can quickly invite or join people in games.
There is nothing more enjoyable than playing a game with previously played people, or friends that you've made, THAT alone for me makes a game, completely.
So yes, give me $50 a year for XBL ($5 a month? Seriously? That's too much? Please.) and yes, I'll suffer the slightly harder to manage FPS controls which really ARE NOT that bad once you spend enough time with them, but it's a HUGE learning curve, unless you're willing to commit, adjust the sensitivity and deal with that fact that there's no mouse, it'll never be "better".
There are people that kick ass using console FPS controls, and it's proof to show that it works.
Mass Effect is an amazing game, it blows away all past Bioware games for me, I feel completely commited to the story, the main character, and getting it on with my female companions
(or male, if you swing that way)
Just remember that Mass Effect is a VERY different game from Gears, which is a machismo run and gun type game.
And although everyone here says it's "bland" - Thousands of other people, including myself, totally disagree. Play them both, if you don't like one - sells it! But give them time, Gears isn't that long, but for me it's got massive replay for the harder difficulties as well as the online multiplayer.