Well, I'll try to not get too long winded
, but any attempt of a short answer would be over simplifying, and there are some points I'm sure you'd like to know before making up your mind:
If you plan to build an F-16 cockpit and fly jet-sims only, then the HOTAS Cougar's the only true replica on the market, and due to it being made of metal it allows for modding e.g. the throttle to operate as the real deal, too.
If you're not flying jets only, then you don't really need a true replica but 'just' a good HOTAS-system. What's "good" depends only on what exactly you want: Are you content with lots of buttons and axes and with the usual mapping-software but don't need true programmability? Then the Saiteks give you the best bang for the buck, no error; They're known for kicking the bucket rather quickly, tho', so don't expect them to last a lifetime. And they play in a completely different league than the TMs and CHs: If you're after true programmability, then only those can satisfy you, with the CHs with their scripting language being ages ahead of the TMs with their rather raw logical programming. And both of them should last for a lifetime, in the case of the Cougar with the help of replacing the pots and gimbals if you like or have to replace something anyway. CH's stick is modelled after the F-16's stick, too, but it doesn't feature a dual-stage trigger, and the paddle-switch is missing, too. Their throttle isn't modelled after anything but simply designed to provide the largest collection of coolie-hats and buttons on the market; it doesn't feature rotaries like the TMs or the Saiteks, though.
In terms of ergonomics, nothing beats the HOTAS Cougar or comes too close to it: It just feels like a part of your hands, while the CHs feel good, too, but just like extensions of your hands; The Saiteks are too small for my taste, but yours may vary. The buttons and coolies of the HOTAS Cougar have a longer travel than what's normal, and this just feels great! CH's buttons feel good, too, but more like what you're used to (only better); Saitek's buttons and switches feel cheap compared to either of them.
The HOTAS Cougar's design has some potential issues, though - nothing too serious, but something you should be aware of nonetheless: 1st off, the 3-way switches are slightly misaligned and need to be checked and rotated a bit to avoid breaking sooner or later - that's a task of just some seconds (if you rotate them with brute force) to minutes (if you prefer to file their mounts). Moreover, due to the HOTAS Cougar's weight its springs are very hard: there are noticable "transition flats" at the axes, i.e. the stick gets "suckered" into the axes' travels - it is impossible to draw a circle with the stock springs. If you don't mind spending more money on your gear, then this can be solved by getting IJ's Über2next gimbal-mod which doesn't have these transition flats at all; these gimbals require Hall-sensors instead of the stock pots, tho', so a full mod will cost you around at least as much as your Cougar itself. This mod solves the potential issue of the stick's center-play, too. It is an option, but one a user should seriously consider since it makes the Cougar the stick it was advertized as: the best on the market.
If you expect a good support and new drivers for new operating systems, then this more or less would rule out Guillemot as the manufacturer of the HOTAS Cougar, unfortunately: there's been not a single official word (except wrong statements in e-mails) from Guillemot on new drivers although many people have asked for news on 64-bit drivers respectively the upcoming Vista, and tho' Guillemot has released according drivers for some of their products like e.g. racing wheels, the HOTAS Cougar cannot be programmed under 64-bit yet; Saitek has had problems with XP for more than 2 full years, but they seem to have resolved these woes; CH Products' support is unequalled, and with Bob "Sticky" Church they've got the best man working on their software and drivers at that, with 64-bit drivers being available and drivers for Vista in the works.
I've got both TMs as well as CHs, and I wouldn't wanna miss any of them: I love the Cougar's ergonomics, but I whole-heartedly detest Guillemot's stance against their customers, their missing support and their non-existant information policy on new drivers; The prospect of being forced to keep a dual-boot system once the next OS is released due to missing drivers makes me wake up in cold sweat at night. I love my CHs, too, and feel safe knowing their support and information policy and sleep sound knowing my next OS will be supported by my old gear. I wouldn't touch toys like the Saiteks as long as I'm not forced to 'cause I need the option to set my gear up to do exactly what I want them to do in exactly the way I want them to do it.
Just my 2cts as an owner (and (former) beta-tester) of both TMs as well as CHs.
