As a stick, VKB Guardian NXT Evo Premium, and either a 2nd one of those for HOSAS or a Thrustmaster TWCS throttle with Nyogel 767a applied to prevent sticking on the rails.
The stick is $200 including a substantial shipping fee from China. The TWCS comes bundled with a (worse) stick at $145, and you can resell the bundled stick for $70 new bringing the throttle cost down to ~$75. Nyogel is ~$13 on Amazon.
> As a stick, VKB Guardian NXT Evo Premium, and either a 2nd one of those for HOSAS or a Thrustmaster TWCS throttle with Nyogel 767a applied to prevent sticking on the rails.
Don't get anything less than a VKB Gladiator. You'll buy a Extreme 3D Pro and then find yourself wanting a VKB later.
I got my Extreme 3D Pro for $30 a few years ago. I agree that there are so many better options out there but it's been a great way to get my feet wet (spread my wings?) in the world of flight sims which I hadn't really touched for almost 20 years.
The stick is $200 including a substantial shipping fee from China. The TWCS comes bundled with a (worse) stick at $145, and you can resell the bundled stick for $70 new bringing the throttle cost down to ~$75. Nyogel is ~$13 on Amazon.