HOT TAKE: maybe not. Just make it default off. Official switch pro controller does not have this issue because it's always off, unless you press buttons, then it connects. Corollary: you cannot store it in a place where buttons might be pressed, or it will indeed drain the battery like in the post.
(Edit: if you disagree, please tell me why. With proper design, it's possible for every button on this type of controller to act effectively as an on button, and I even cited a working, shipping example.)
You can have an electronic circuit that is open, unless you press a button, then it's powered on and keeps power until a timeout/event. I know, it requires some more complex concepts than a bidirectional physical switch, but it's doable.
The twitter thread complains about controllers which empty their battery between uses because they keep trying to connect; but it's not something that's mandatory: an at-rest device can stay at rest without user interaction. I've used hardware on which the battery was still usable after years without use; it does requires very careful design, though.
(Edit: if you disagree, please tell me why. With proper design, it's possible for every button on this type of controller to act effectively as an on button, and I even cited a working, shipping example.)