My ol reliable but cheap Saitek AV8R-01 is stiff and skipping when trying to track tanks... it's given me plenty of good years, just wondering... any new and/or better sticks out there... looking for the smoothest from tracking... THX

In theory the Thrustmaster T16000M would be the one with the finest possible resolution. But there's a bit of discontinuity in centering spring force especially around the center position that I, personally, don't like.

That being said, it's quite manageable, and beyond that near-center behavior, very smooth and not too stiff.

Agreed, beeing unable to afford one of AFVsims products ;-)...T16000 is the next best thing

My old X-45 was horrible for this sim (damn centering spring). My CH stick works good.

For under $50 USD at the time, the Microsoft Sidewinder optical joystick. With no pots and variable resistors, no parts to wear down, no losing tolerances or accumulating centering issues with wear and tear, it functioned exactly the same years later as it did since the first day. The main problem was the pretty light construction overall, particularly the lightweight base, which made it easier to move the whole thing around with any inputs (which is true of most joysticks I've picked up). It didn't have that garish cyborg look at all that's become so popular now. No longer supported in Windows, shame. These things go for hundreds of dollars now.