If you guys could ask a HOTAS developer questions about their industry or product, what would your top 3 questions be?

Does not matter the manufacturer. Could be CH, could be TM, could be Saitek. What would you ask?

Questions about hardware...

Questions about software (programming)...

What the future may be...

I'd like to know;

Why lack of affordable Force Feedback.
Why lack of classic style controls (WWI / II).
Is it profitable. Flight sim is certainly a niche market, people still use old controls (Cougar, X52, ForceFeedback 2).

I'd ask if they are aware with the current market resurgence of flight sims and space sims games? there are over 300k star citizen backers now and I bet more than 50% of them want new HOTAS system with affordable price, including me, I'm looking forward with X-55 but I'd like to see TM and CH put out something new to fight, especially CH, they admittedly quit the consumer market years ago and there is no better time than now to put out something new.

so are they aware of the situation now?

+1 about the FFB. Saitek made noises about doing it and then for some strange reason decided to go force sensing. Then Logi tried to do it on the cheap (wires too short + reversal bug) It would have been a big seller no doubt.

1. Why is there a complete lack of HOTAS with ADJUSTABLE physical resistance curves. RC transmitters have it, even on the low end models. Theres no excuse for a $150+ controller not to.

I know the answers to the other questions:

WWII HOTAS (in addition to not technically being possible, as HOTAS is a post wwii concept) would make a terrible video game controller as there arent enough buttons on the stick to work in other titles, marginalizing the market down to JUST wwII players.

Force-feedback requires software support from devs as well as the HOTAS manus, adding to r/d cost. Its also hard to get a powerful yet compact a system into a desktop friendly base. Steering wheels are easier to get the heavy duty motors in due to their layout. Its too much head ache for too little payout.

Fw 190 controls is like the "Granfather" of HOTAS, a good base for a "WWII HOTAS", even more with some "field mod" buttons like is common see in some planes. But really this is for a niche in a niche market...
But Saitek did a "WW II Navy stick" version of Aviator just for Collector Edition of Pacific Squadron (arcade) game...

I bet that joystick F.Feedback now is "history".

Sokol

1. Why the current lack of FFB options in controllers.

2. When is CH going to come out with there alternative to the Warthog

3. Reserved for edit at a later date I need coffee.