I started Elite Dangerous with the TM Warthog because it was recommended by the friend who sucked me into this game. But I could never use fixed weapons with it, because of the TM hard center. Even using curves didn't really help me.
Over a thousand hours of play with that joystick made it really hard for me to switch to a VKB or a Virpil grip, and back before I started using Joystick Gremlin, I didn't like the way the hats worked on those sticks as much as the Warthog grip I'd grown so accustomed to. So I despaired being able to use the fixed weapons that are so important to PvP in Elite Dangerous.
Then I heard that Virpil supported the TM Warthog grip on their VPC WarBRD base. So I tried that route. And THAT combination is awesome -- so much so that I now have two of those franken-sticks -- the Virpil base and its precision soft center is incredible and I get to use the TM grip that my old, inelastic brain now seems to be hard-wired to.
When buying my second TM grip, I found that if you email Thrustmaster, they'll sell you the grip without having to buy the base (I told them I loved the grip I had, but it felt like it was wearing a bit, and I wanted to have a spare, just in case it eventually failed). It's still an expensive grip, but not as expensive as buying the full joystick and pretty much in line with the grips sold independently by Virpil and VKB.
If I were to start anew, I'd probably go with a VKB stick, like Ash's. The one I have (and don't use!) is excellent, but does not have yaw on the stick and it might be nice not having to take rudder pedals with me when I travel!
I'm in a similar boat with my throttle. I've wired my brain to use the TM HOTAS Warthog throttle (and have two of them -- one for home and one for on the road when I travel), but I'm seriously considering that new Virpil throttle. It's sexy!