Some more information about the device click here

What Saitek should have done here is have a gimbal system in place and within the gimbal system, have the force sensing module. Then have a locking mechanism for the stick where the gimbal system doesn't move and relies on the force sensing module and then have the ability to unlock the stick where it can then move via the gimbal system and disable the force sensing module via software.

Now that would have been a killer setup. While it would have added an extra $100 or so, that $500 price tag would be a lot better value than the $400 price tag for a force sensing only stick. I think they are making a big mistake with such a limited focus. It's a shame to because that throttle looks like the coolest on the market and I have no complaints about the stick either with the exception of its limited scope. They'll probably give it a couple of years, but I bet they will have a revision that is more worthwhile for a wider audience.

I agree with you.

Yeah thats how I feel too, like the stick but not the technology involved. Well we will see what the sales figures tell us but I still have a hunch that this product line will bomb on low sales. I'd gladly give my $400 for a FFB version though...........

According to the saitek forum they claim that not enough people wanted a FFB Saitek Hotas!
If they had to go down this route they should of made the thruster seperate and made two sticks FFB and FS and you pick the type that you want but they probably knew that the FFB stick would have out sold the FS stick.
Very bad call from Saitek.

Because it's VERY expensive to make.

Jason

I might be naive, but maybe it's not about how many people will buy but having pride in a quality product?

No, what a dumb idea. Forget it.