I've had mine since the thing was released, and still love it. Programming isn't hard at all if you use the included Foxy programming software and just keep it simple. You can go more in depth and get into the complicated stuff, but you don't have to.
If you can get your hands on one, that'd be nice. As with anything, taste is subjective and just because I love mine doesn't mean you'll love yours. I could never stand the feel of CH Sticks, tho' I've never had issue with their quality. And by feel I mean the movement of the joystick/throttle. The feel of their plastic is great. As for Saitek, I've always been of the opinion they make junk...including their hoopty rip-off of the TM TQS throttle.
To give you a different perspective on Seeker's rantings....
"The quality is only skin deep; the innards are as cheap as any other stick."
While, I would have loved to have an even more precise stick with higher quality metal (and would have been willing to pay the price), I highly doubt that the metal innards in the cougar are as cheap or as weak as the plastic parts in many joysticks. The hat switches are a dream, imo, done perfectly with great throw. All of the buttons have a positive feel when you activate them and the dual-stage trigger is much improved over the F22.
"There's slop around centre. Not much, to be fair, but more than my old sidewinder, at (literally) ten times the price any is too much."
I think there are a few things that the Cougar has that a MS Sidewinder does not, and that is what you pay for. That said, center slop is and always has been one of my pet peeves. It didn't effect the operation of the stick in any way, and most probably wouldn't notice...but it bugged me. I spent $130US (incl shipping) to send off the guts of my stick to an enthusiast in Australia who has created a mod for the stick. He incorporates brass bushings and a custom ball bearing assembly for each axis. It eliminated the slop and took the stick to another level. I'm guessing the same affect could have been achieved if I had opted to not get the ball bearing assemblies, and the price would have been cut in half as well...but I thought they were cool so I paid for 'em.
"The stick is made for BIG hands and is finished in gloss paint, perfect grip when the going gets sweaty (not!); especialy in the light of those springs."
The handle is the same size as the one in the F-16, and I'm guessing the gov't did some research into the design. However, position can make a huge difference. Your ability to reach every hat and swich on the stick can be affected by whether the stick is in a position high, medium or low in relation to your elbow. Sitting up on your desk, the top hat can be hard to reach. Sitting on a mount lower (I have mine so that the top of the base is roughly at elbow height - when my elbow is at my side) the top hat is easier to reach. I still don't use it for views tho', I use the one immediately below it, because that one is more readily accessible. As for sweaty hands, I guess that must be a personal thing...I've never had that problem, even when I'm hot.
"The Cougar is a prime example of Emporer's new clothes syndrome."
His other points were his own perspective, and that's cool, but he's just babbling here. It's a great stick, and I feel it was worth every penny I paid for it, as was the mod.
SOB
