I have a ton of pedals, VKBs (x2), Virpil's ace collection and their newer Torqs, a couple of Slaw sets, MFG (sold these to a friend), and a pile of older plastic peds like CH, Saitek combat pedals, etc.
VKB IMO by far offer the best bang/$, and even without the $ considered they stand up in my top 2, with a $800 Slaw custom set being the only ones I might use instead - but not for a game like AH where gun shooting accuracy is SO critical. VKB's beat all on that score, at least for me.
The reason for that is what Eagle was saying already - the mechanism of action/motion. The VKB pedals use more of the body's small motor skill as opposed to more gross motor skill movements, resulting in much more precision. Many pedals move by you pushing with your leg, as opposed to pressing down with just your feet by rotating it at the angle, just like you press on a car throttle/gas pedal. Ever try to drive a car with a cast on your right leg? Same sort of difference applies here. Virpil also sells a similar set now, but I find the VKB to be a bit more solid, plus I've been using them since the first version came out, and the distributor way back (he was a sim developer as well) for them back then sold me his last set he had in stock in the USA, back when VKB didn't look long for this world.
I've seen good used VKB pedals go for $150 USD or even less, but the new Mk V are excellent value new as said.