Agreed. The X56 is a great stick but needs the quality materials of the Warthog stick and the adjustability of the X52Pro (because not everyone has hands like bear paws) for both the stick and the throttle. I have never used a Warthog, but every review I have ever read says the stick is awesome but the throttle leaves a bit to be desired as it's not produced in the same materials as the stick.
I think a part of the problem is the consumer base and the longevity of the equipment. Once upon a time things were built to last from transistor radios to cars and everything in-between. Those days have long gone, giving way to commercial greed. I think Jones in the original Robocop movie said it best..."I had a guaranteed military sale with ED 209 - renovation program, spare parts for twenty-five years... Who cares if it worked or not?"
This is how companies think nowadays - kit is not built to last because it will either be superseded every couple of years with a newer model and accompanying hype (just look at your latest phone handset) or there is more profit to be had from repairs and spares. If you have an expensive quality product built to last, once you have invested in it there is no reason to buy another for years. Add to that the relatively low consumer base (because let's face it there are just not enough gamers to create a sustainable profit margin) and you have a reason for not producing that long-lived product.
What does this all mean for the average player? Either go with the usual suspects and hope your purchase lasts or go with smaller producers like Virpil, VKB or Simundza who produce on a far smaller scale or literally to order but use metal components and quality internals.
