I don't get it.. I used my X52 for years with no problems whatsoever.  I've replaced it for a force-feedback stick last summer, but it still works perfectly, even after 4 years of use!  And I didn't exactly baby it either.  Before the X52 I had the X45 for a couple of years and the only reason I had to replace it was because I was lubing it with WD40, and its plastic didn't like that very much.