I have a pretty antique set of CH USB. The left toe brake doesn't respond anymore, though the pot is good, so I suspect controller issues. I'll look into that reasonably soon. The leather grips I put on them roughly 6 years ago are nicely aged, and I'm loathe to replace any of it.
I had a cougar set; sent the stick off to a machinist to get rid of the center play and never got it back, so all that's left is the throttle. On the whole I prefer CH.
To fix spiking in the stick and rudders I just spent more than my spouse will approve to buy 3 hall effect sensors to replace the potentiometers. I'll let you know how it works after they get here and I get them swapped. Hopefully once I get everything cleaned, new sensors in, and possibly springs replaced I'll have a top-notch set to fondle as I fall flaming from the sky.
This, of course, is the tip of the AH spending iceberg in the next 12 months...