I found my old TM TQS throttle very accurate and easy to make small adjustments while still being able to rest my palm on it to use the other buttons. Its being re-created as part of the Thrustmaster HOTAS COUGAR range which is due out end of Jan/beginning of Feb and looks VERY nice. I've also used a CH Pro Throttle but I not only found the sliding motion not as nice as the arc movement of the TM TQS but also the throttle movement was so 'loose' it meant using other buttons on the throttle often made you accidentally move the throttle which is a nuisance when using function as I did for bombing while maintining a constant sped and to maintain formation. The Saitek X36 setup (now rebadged as the X45) had a nice throttle very similar to the TQS with an 'arc' movement that was stiff enough for your palm to rest on it and use other buttons but generally I found it not be as well made as the TQS but then its over half the price and a very good cheap joystick to use although Saitek are having problems with XP functionality if its Windows XP you are using.
Personally I'd soldier on with what you have if you have around $300 for the TM HOTAS Cougar, expensive I know but its all metal construction combined with TM's well renowned ruggedness it will last you years where others might fail. Budget buy I'd say buy the Saitek X45. CH stuff is well made but they have not changed some of the fundamental problems I encountered using their gameport sticks in their USB range to make me want to go back to using CH.
