i bought a desk mat. i miss mouse pads, but it seems they don't really have any application when posed against a desk mat.
i tried a cushion/pad mousepad once and it just hurt my wrist.
normal mousepads just don't cut it anymore i guess, especially with all the peripherals that go on a desk. having a desk mat on my wooden desk makes it easier to keep things like water bottle on it too. (i respect wood)
anyway are mousepads really dead or is it just me