Thanks for that - I marginally prefer the combat stick as it has more buttons and less hats - and given that the throttle on the T-16000 pack has loads of hats, I won't be missing out - or at least that's my thinking.
The problem with my T-Flight is that the twist/yaw has become vague and prone to 'trembling', however having tried the T-Flight with the yaw function solely dedicated to the throttle, I'm struggling to adjust - the twist-for-yaw had become second nature and I'm missing it already. The dilemma being the CH products don't have twist.
Dammit......
Sorry to say not a fan of 'Saitek' joysticks - I had one a while ago and never got on with it - it seemed to have a very pronounced 'ridge' to get over before getting any movement, and I never got it feeling smooth so free-cycled it.
Hats are simply a collection of four buttons, and they are all at the same location, they are four times as good as buttons, if not eight.
As for the center detent you mentioned on Saitek sticks.
That is a lot more pronounced in the CH sticks, it's down to how they are designed, there are two seperate springs per axis movement, and going between one end to the other you pass the tension of one spring to the other with a very pronounced "clunk" feeling.
If you actually mind that, stay away.
It was actually one of the reasons I upgraded after having a CH-fighterstick for three years.
When googling for complaints about a product, well you are going to find them.
And yes, would my life have been easier if I had bought a Warthogh over the Virpil, yes, yes it would.
I don't see how the spring tension mechanics are fragile, but then again, there are no shortage of idioits, if you tighten something to much it will break.
And I can see how someone would rather try tightening a weaker spring on them rather than take the whole thing apart and swap out for a heavier one.
It just comes to light that the more premium of a setup you want, the closer and closer you get to DIY.
In fact I had to dissamble my Virpil gimbal before I could fly comfortably.
It's not a perfect stick, but once you get it tuned right, and for ED and spacesim fans you need to get the low resistance cams as well.
But dear lord, once that is tuned in the precision I experience with this is miles beyond what I had.
But no, I can't really recommend the Virpil as it is, or any products in that price category.
If you want to enter that level of insanity you are going to have to jump in yourself, although I must say even though I have cut my legs on some underwater rocks and they are bleeding a smidge.
The water is very nice and warm.
If you are sane, I would like others, and if you are happy with it, get another Thrustmaster-x, or the T-16000.
At the end of the day, all mechanical devices do break.
