The best place to start your search of the good, bad and ugly for a Cougar is at the
Cougar World Forums.I don't know about not lasting a long time. I personally haven't had any of the "center play" issues but I did have to replace the pots within the throttle due to a screwed up firmware flash that TM still doesn't really acknowledge...Long story best read about on Cougar World forums. But I will give you my basic Cougar vs. the rest right now.
At any rate if you are only playing AH then go for something a little less pricey (ie...Saitek X45 combo) but still get a decent pair of rudders. If you are planning on spending bunches of dollars then check into both the Cougar and CH gear. I have had CH in the past and just didn't care for it personally. I have been a TM user for many years and don't like the way that CH builds their stuff. I destroyed a Fighterstick inside of 6 months from heavy use and I can't stand the sliding motion on the CH throttle. Again these are personal preferences. I haven't used CH gear in a few years except when I am visiting a buddy who has it; so I don't know all the new in's and out's of the software.
As for the Cougar well I really like the Foxy software that comes with it and the way that it handles new digital statements for the throttle as well. It is a mother to push but I like that feeling and have not had any increase in center play as I mentioned above. I don't like the choppy feeling as you move through the 12, 6, 3 and 9 o clock positions due to the way the springs are inside the stick base. I have thought about getting one of the many "mods" that are available to eliminate that feeling but I don't have the money available to do it and get the Hall Effect sensors that some require. It does take some getting used to at first but for me it was well worth it. I play several different flight sims using the setup and not all of them are prop games like AH. Plus in games like Falcon 4 you don't need alot of force to get the plane changing direction and the same applies to F/A-18 from Janes. But I digress from the facts. Yes there are issues with the Cougar but for me I haven't had any of the large problems that piss off people and make them buy something else. Till that happens and CH makes a different throttle for their gear...MAKE MINE A COUGAR!
