I played the game for like a week before I got the controller. As I said, use the keyboard arrow keys for the menu system. I think all you'll need the mouse for is maybe to hit the confirmation buttons. It works just fine that way. I'm not sure what's so awkward about the interface; I never felt like it was in my way at all.
lots of contrary opinion out there
http://na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=1480851
http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EricSchwarz/20111111/8866/Skyrim_or_How_Not_to_Make_a_PC_Game.php
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.323041-Skyrim-on-PC-disable-Xbox-controller-get-a-significant-performance-boost-easier-menu-navigation
http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/11/14/review-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/3/
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/14/user-interfarce-skyrims-silly-choices/
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/11/pc-skyrim-is-a-frustrating-messand-will-soon-be-the-best-version.ars
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/11/16/the-strange-frustrating-mess-that-is-skyrim-pc/
http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/elderscrollsvskyrim/1735/review.html