I've only the HOTAS setup from CH and it's really good, precise, sturdy and the software/driver offer a large field of possibilities. I had no problem with COD, no spiking. I've always heard good things about their products, but the design can be a concern for some people.
Here is a link to a test on SimHQ:
http://www.simhq.com/_technology/technology_035a.html
But if you prefer the saitek go for it, the issue was rather an exeption than the norm.