Hey everyone! How y’all doing?

Backstory: I’ve finally reached a spot where my hobbies fund account has been untouched long enough and accrued enough money for me to splurge a bit on a hobby. This time, it’s finally going toward simming instead of the usual “the house needs this” or “the car needs that” hobbies my wife keeps suggesting.

This will be my first HOTAS ever, even though I’ve been flight simming since I was a kid with MSFS 2000, mostly using mouse and keyboard or a controller. Since this might be my first and only big purchase for this hobby for quite a few years, I’d like to start with a bang (albeit might be more of a "pop" for most of you lol).

Here's where I'm at: I mostly play MSFS and DCS, but I like to dabble with Star Citizen here and there (this might be more frequent with a nice setup). In SC, I’m more of a hauler/miner/explorer and do my best to avoid combat, so I don’t think I need HOSAS right now, and I definitely can’t justify a HOTASAS. In MSFS, I mostly fly GA, with the occasional bigger league.

I’ve narrowed it down to three setups, but I can’t quite decide on which one to choose. Prices are fairly close because of the spring sale.

• CDT Aeromax + VMAX HOTAS + Universal Control Panel #3
  • Pros: best in class (in my really outsider and review watcher view) that is available rn, considering mostly price:quality, longevity and software. The throttle is simple and has just a few buttons, but the stick with the modifier key makes up for it + the panel has all the buttons I could need for a beginner + a throttle quadrant (love the idea as a GA enthusiast and possible future PPL owner).
  • Cons: The stick and internals are not changeable, which makes me worry about future-proofing and adjustability. The whole setup may also be awkward on my desk at first. The panel is the priciest part (which in itself is a small con), and I’m not sure I’d use it enough to justify it. Also, I don’t see many recent reviews or community posts about these panels, which does not help my buyer’s-regret anxiety.
  • Pros: Same Aeromax positives as above, but with a throttle that has more built-in controls in a smaller and easier-to-manage package. Also, better throttle detents for DCS (most use cases), costs a bit less, and should be easier and cheaper to ship.
  • Cons: Same concerns about the Aeromax stick. Also, no throttle quadrant for my imaginary GA pilot training arc, which slightly hurts my future-PPL daydreaming. Fewer controls overall, too.
  • Pros: This seems like the more future-proof option. Better stick and base, more customization, spare parts, better repairability, and a metal grip, which my brain likes because shiny-cold metal thing good. It is also lighter and less bulky, which matters because shipping and support/reverse-logistics are not exactly easy where I live. The hardware is older and more established too, so I trust it a bit more than a newer just-launched first edition product. Most importantly, it is more upgradeable. With the CDT stick, we do not really know what future upgrades will look like, especially since the stick is, well, stuck.
  • Cons: It has the fewest buttons/features right now. I could fix that later once I get a better grip, pun intended, on what buttons and levers I actually would like to have at hands lenght. Still, it gives me some buyer’s-remorse anxiety because I’d be paying a lot for the least “complete” (feature-wise) setup out of the box.
• CDT Aeromax + VMAX Prime Throttle
  • Pros: Same Aeromax positives as above, but with a throttle that has more built-in controls in a smaller and easier-to-manage package. Also, better throttle detents for DCS (most use cases), costs a bit less, and should be easier and cheaper to ship.
  • Cons: Same concerns about the Aeromax stick. Also, no throttle quadrant for my imaginary GA pilot training arc, which slightly hurts my future-PPL daydreaming. Fewer controls overall, too.
  • Pros: This seems like the more future-proof option. Better stick and base, more customization, spare parts, better repairability, and a metal grip, which my brain likes because shiny-cold metal thing good. It is also lighter and less bulky, which matters because shipping and support/reverse-logistics are not exactly easy where I live. The hardware is older and more established too, so I trust it a bit more than a newer just-launched first edition product. Most importantly, it is more upgradeable. With the CDT stick, we do not really know what future upgrades will look like, especially since the stick is, well, stuck.
  • Cons: It has the fewest buttons/features right now. I could fix that later once I get a better grip, pun intended, on what buttons and levers I actually would like to have at hands lenght. Still, it gives me some buyer’s-remorse anxiety because I’d be paying a lot for the least “complete” (feature-wise) setup out of the box.
• WarBRD-D CADET H.O.T.A.S Bundle - ALPHA Prime Edition
  • Pros: This seems like the more future-proof option. Better stick and base, more customization, spare parts, better repairability, and a metal grip, which my brain likes because shiny-cold metal thing good. It is also lighter and less bulky, which matters because shipping and support/reverse-logistics are not exactly easy where I live. The hardware is older and more established too, so I trust it a bit more than a newer just-launched first edition product. Most importantly, it is more upgradeable. With the CDT stick, we do not really know what future upgrades will look like, especially since the stick is, well, stuck.
  • Cons: It has the fewest buttons/features right now. I could fix that later once I get a better grip, pun intended, on what buttons and levers I actually would like to have at hands lenght. Still, it gives me some buyer’s-remorse anxiety because I’d be paying a lot for the least “complete” (feature-wise) setup out of the box.

So, that’s where I’m stuck. I've tried to make it as concise as possible (failed a bit, sure), so this list of reasons, pros and cons is non-exhaustive. But I feel it should be more than enough for you guys to help me with an informed opinion!

I could not, for the life of me, even begin to explain how excited and happy I am at even the actually palpable prospect of joining the club! So please be gentle with this over-stimulated golden retriever of a man.

Thank y'all so very much in advance, and sorry for the wall of text. Happy to clarify anything!