Is a new joystick a noticable improvement

[Max]

Matt if your feet are relatively coordinated I'd recomend pedals from the start. Saitek and CH both make them.
Personally I liked the looks of the Saitek as they are a bit wider stance.

Saitek Ped Pros:
Wider foot rest positions
Lenght of the foot rests can be adjusted
Tension wheel

Con:
Mine locked up in the full forward position, a LOT. Sent 'em back to Saitek 2x. Got to be such a nuisance I bought a set of CH peds. Smooth sailing ever since.

[Ack-Ack]

I wish CH would get back into the force-feedback market

Don't think that will happen any time soon, too bad because they did have the best force feedback joystick at one time.  Maybe now that Chuck Hayes is no longer owns CH we'll see something, he didn't like force feedback and thought it was nothing more than a novelty.

ack-ack

[Kazaa]

Ack-Ack, I've replaced my CH Combatstick with the MSFFB2.

I don't think I would ever go back to a none FFB stick.