I'm using an Ace Edge HOTAS and I haven't noticed a very large dead zone, with my stick it's minimal, probably because I breakdown and overhaul my Ace Edge every now & then.
I find the rudder bar to be very precise and easy to get used to.
The POV on the thumb stick is hassle free and works great.
I like the bulkiness of my Ace Edge, it definitely doesn't feel cheap. It's bulkiness and large foot print makes it easy to attach to the armrests of my modified LazyBoy recliner, my flight chair set-up feels comfortable, natural and is easy to get into or out of.
I like the way the rudder controls with the rocker bar in BoP because it's analog. In Ace Combat 6 the rudder is digital, all or nothing. I'm on my third torsion spring for the rudder slider pot with all the tapping I had to do in Ace Combat 6.
Here's my set-up;
I found this old beat up LazyBoy recliner sitting on the curb, threw it in the back of my pickup and brought it home. I stripped it down to the frame then rebuilt it with armrests to accommodate adjustable platforms for the ACE Edge flight stick and I constructed and installed an LFE tactile transducer to the frame before I upholstered it.
I use industrial strength Velcro to affix the sticks. Velcro makes it easy to adjust and remove the sticks, so that was a 'No Brainer'.
That's my Q & A tester sitting behind the wheel.
How is the tactile rumble feedback on the Saitek AV8R? Is it strong like the Ace Edge HOTAS so that it lets you know when you are about to stall?