[WWSandMan]

The most durable, Bar none, is the Cougar.

+1

I bought mine second-hand, seven + years ago. I use it nearly every day, and it's never failed to provide excellent control of my sim aircraft in many different sims, from FS to Condor to F4AF and the IL-2 series, among many others. The serious flight simmer requires serious gear. The Thrustmaster Cougar is serious gear. Well worth the price tag for equipment that will last a lifetime.

My one foray into using CH gear was many years ago. Their product at the time was superb (as it is now), and the only reason I didn't go back was price. I literally wore out the stick and rudders flying RB2/3D for many years. Several of my squad mates have CH gear and they all agree CH sells top-shelf gear. Highly recommended.

I went through four Saitek X-45 sticks in less than two years (two purchased, and both returned for repair/replacement within a year)... and While Saitek did honor the warranty, I was decidedly unhappy with the durability of their product. And the fact I was left without a flight controller for weeks on end while awaiting the return of RMA'd X-45 units left me highly unlikely to ever purchase Saitek products again.

Gathering dust on my shelf is an old Microsoft Sidewinder. I have no idea if it even works any longer, but it provided reasonable service while I waited for my Saitek gear to be repaired/replaced. Much better than the X-45 stick, though I can't give an honest appraisal of how it stacks up against the X-52. There is no comparison needed against the CH or TM gear, both of those handily win any competetion.

All this is my own opinion of course.