Touch pads are infuriating until they're not. They take some practice but afterwards are faster and offer more options than a mouse. Those who use a full size keyboard instead of a laptop keyboard can buy a separate touch pad.
When the first computer mouse came out, users had a difficult time but mastered it quickly. Of course, they had Minesweeper to help them.
In addition to being faster than the mouse, the payoff is that you can always revert to a mouse if you're using a different computer but if you're ever stuck with just the touch pad, you'll have no problem.
I've used a red keyboard button, a mouse, a track ball, and now a touch pad. For ease, speed, and convenience, I rank a touch pad best, a track ball second best, a mouse a distant third, and a red keyboard button/joystick a very distant last.
To some extent no doubt, I'm an old dog and no new tricks wanted. I've tried the other options you listed and just didn't work for me.
I've used a mouse so long and so much, it's just a natural extension that works. A cheap mouse with zero ergonomics is torture though, my hand turns into a claw eventually from carpal tunnel. I tune the mouse action pretty hot. Just a slight flex of the wrist to zap the cursor all over the screen. Use the scroll, top and side buttons for shortcuts,