I have the same joystick and a V2 Virpil throttle (the last one with detents, the current V3 model they're selling no longer has them).
If you're using Joystick Gremlin with VKB or Virpil gear you most likely haven't found out how powerful both the Virpil and especially the VKB software is. In contrast to other software you don't have to keep it running while using the joystick, as everything you change is written back to the firmware inside the joystick, so it even works if you plug it into another computer without any software installed.
Both Virpil and VKB software has got you covered if you want to change curves, axes, button maps, LED colours, shift modes, etc. Your comment about only one hat being a true hat? That's configurable. For all the hats. In fact, you can change between hat mode and button mode by pressing another button. Or only long-pressing it, while a short press still goes to your game. Or by a combination of other button presses. You wanted an 8-way hat? No problem, just configure the mini-stick as one. Out of the box if you press the mini-stick it switches between hat and 2-axes mini-stick mode, and lights up a LED to show you it's done so. Want the mini-stick mode as default if you fire it up? No problem, that's one toggle in the settings. The possibilities are insane and endless and I have only just started dipping my toes in what is possible.
The reverse of this is that the learning cliff of the software is basically vertical. The Virpil software is fairly intuitive once you watch a youtube vid or two but the VKB software (which seems to have FAR more options) is scary. It comes with a 112 page manual that basically only skims the surface and doesn't explain the good stuff. For that you need the knowledge of the people in the HOTAS/HOSAS/Simpit Discord at
https://discord.gg/szqaJE7, no way you're figuring this out on your own.
I'm currently running the Kosmosima with the hard center cam on both axes and the lightest spring. This is super easy for exploration (out in the black currently) but probably not the best for combat. The biggest negative of the Gunfighter II base right now is that both cams are progressive in the force required the farther you get from the center. Virpil has linear (cosmosim) cams, but VKB doesn't (yet). Hopefully they'll get around to making those at some point as that's the only point where Virpil has them beat right now.