I think a lot of people in AH have a Precision Pro (of one variety or another) and it works great. Mine is very smooth and I haven't had a problem with stick spiking. I have the following setup.
Hat: All set to different views, left front, left, left rear, rear, right rear, right, right front, and up front (the 45 deg up view).
Trigger: Primary Guns
3 Buttons on stick top: Zoom, Secondary Guns, Weapons Toggle (for changing between bombs/rockets/etc).
4 buttons on base: Up left, Up right, Up back and Straight Up.
I don't have the shift button mapped on the stick base.
I prefer having the view buttons all in one place on the stick and reach to a keyboard for other things. I find the views need to be more accessable when in flight.
Hope this helps.
-Soda
The Assassins.