If you're looking for a stick on the low end, I can't be of any help. I take my flight sims too seriously to play with toy sticks like the Siatek or whatever.
If you're willing to spend the money and want a full setup, both of the high priced options are great.
I went from a full CH USB Fighterstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals setup to the Thrustmaster Cougar, but was not at all unhappy with my CH stuff. The Cougar is simply cooler and could do programming stuff that the CH couldn't do. I haven't checked out the new CH programming tools to see if they're now the equal of the TM programming, but I've got no reason to doubt Revvin's words that they are. I'm curious to see if they can duplicate some of the very complex tricks that my Cougar can do though.
The sticks are basically equal ('cept the TM is metal and has much stronger springs), but I find that I prefer the TM throttle. The arced adjustable-tension motion, movable detents, and overall feel is just better. The CH throttle has more button presses available, but the TM Range & Antenna dials give you some neat options. Amazingly, when I was using the CH throttle I felt like it should have 1 more button.
I never felt comfortable placing my pinky, ring & middle fingers on the three buttons with my index finger on the front hat. Always felt more comfortable to my hand to have my ring, middle, and index fingers on those buttons, leaving my pinky wishing for a fourth button of it's own.
The front hat was always relegated to keypresses that weren't used very much.
A BIG bonus for the CH USB stuff is that the programming software can make them all appear as one controller.
VERY nice if you ever fly a program that won't recognize more than one attached controller. Thrustmaster never came through with their promised rudder pedals which would have attached directly to the Cougar and worked all as 1 device. You can use their old Elites (if you can find any) but they don't have toe brakes. There are some aftermarket options as well, but they're
very pricey and I donno if the SimPeds have a toe brake option yet either. I'm using CH USB Pro Pedals. Donno how I ever landed without toe brakes.
As has been noted, the quality control on the Cougar can be described as "suspect." I've had ZERO problems with mine, but others have had nothing but trouble. The aftermarket support is nothing short of phenomenal though. I'd say that many of the guys who're willing to pay upwards of $350 US for an amazing HOTAS like the Cougar are quite willing to spend MORE money to make it even better.
For the typical high-end joystick conniseur I heartily recommend the entire CH USB setup. For the RABID high-end joystick nut who's willing to do anything for the best, the Cougar is your only choice. Get one and tweak it to your heart's content.
