Looks like you were trying to emulate the NeoGeo layout.

Somewhat. I wanted the top row to be Neo Geo like because I play a lot of Neo games. I originally (in the first preliminary sketch) had the Street Fighter style block of six buttons. I think my layout is a compromise, and I don't think it's too tough to play SF-style games, especially since fingers naturally curve that way (they're not all the same length, ya know!) I'm not sure how well it would work for Mortal Kombat, though. I kinda thought they'd go:

              high kick      block

high punch    low kick       run

low punch

.
or something. I don't think that'd be too bad. Never played Killer Instinct, so not sure how that'd be affected.