How is this even applicable here, especially considering a DEV has since adjusted this based off of community feedback?
The person who didn't understand the controls actually appears to be the one you quoted.
You certainly do start different fade animations by pulling the stick in different directions (down+left, Down, Down+Right) and before tuning updates would have to rotate the right stick AFTER starting the animation in order to "center" your shot.
The only workaround I found was timing in relation to my steps. If I took one step towards the bucket and activated a fade by pulling directly down before my feet are set, his fade will lean the opposite way it would if I let his feet set after the "step" animation.