Part 1 - I should preface this by saying that this is all my own experience, and that I have been "looking for the next best" for some time. I am a gamer and not a "real pilot", but for comparison I own the classic Thustmaster Cougar HOTAS (features all metal construction including the gimbal, and the very nice F-16 style single-engine throttle), the "ahead of its time" Saitek X-65F HOTAS (made before Saitek/Mad Catz started sucking, mostly metal construction, force-sensing gimbal, and one of the best dual engine throttles ever), the venerable CH Products Fighterstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals (plus Flightstick Pro for "dualing" and Flight Sim Yoke for.. Erm.. "Yoking"?), and finally the largely undisputed heavyweight champion Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS (all metal minus the gimbal, excellent almost everything, with the very good A-10 style dual engine throttle). In the pursuit of great peripheral happiness I have spent many hours and many months scouring the web and learning everything I could about VKB-Sim and Virpil-VPC, even from the dark and smelly places (shudder). I even purchased a VKB-Sim Gladiator for nothing more than a product line impression (It's VERY good by the way, but no way a 2-button/single HAT was going to cut it for me/Star Citizen, even with twist). I would have done the same with Virpil if I'd had the chance, but suffice it to say I've been busy doing my homework. Competitors comparison (AFAIK): VKB-Sim began as somewhat of a IL2 Sturmovic "community" project in 2003, had success with their initial offings (rudder pedals), designed a well loved stick for another company (the Defender Cobra M5), and has enjoyed even further success with their own sticks (Gladiator, Gunfighter, plus Pro versions of both), a number off all-metal gimbals, another pedal set (T-Rudders), and most recently the Modern Combat Edition (MCG, also "Pro") grips and gimbal sets. They also have a number of products in development including a modern throttle and at least one "space" oriented device, but the typical secrecy surrounds, and very little is actually known about them. While owners seem to love and struggle to find anything even sort of wrong with their products, it is their apparent "limited run" mentality that puts me off. Everything they make is awesome, they announce something and fans go nuts, they wait and wait, and then snatch it all up the moment it's available. Then the rest of us get to wait some more, and possibly grab a second hand one when some fool resells it. I believe they have the more refined and superior product, BUT they just don't seem to be mainstream enough to keep up with their own ideas and the demand they generate. Maybe they're still in "alpha", LOL! Virpil VPC came on the scene more recently, was supposedly a bit of an underdog, but has hit the ground running. They have designed, marketed, and actually released an initial line of grips and metal gimbals, followed up rapidly with subsequent "improved" iterations, and have really been pushing their product line in general. They have put out concepts of new additions much more rapidly than VKB, including a dedicated "space" grip (the Delta Constellation), their own throttle, and appear to be very close to actual production release. They seem to be focused not only on making a great product, but also on mass-market and getting their products on the streets. I believe that their line may not have all the bells and whistles of VKB, but they are a great deal more accessible, not to mention more often available. Order and Purchase experience: I had initially decided on the new VKB-Sim MCG Pro kit because their new grip had the "Holy Grail" analog "thruster" mini-stick, user customizeable/replaceable buttons and switches, came with a great extension, and the gimbal even featured "dry clutches". And it was SO close to being released, only a matter of months, so I watched my email like a hawk, ready and willing to pummel that preorder button. It was delayed for nearly a month (a pre-order, really?), but I finally got my order in, just in time for the release to be pushed out again. Finally after almost two months and a likely further delay, I cancelled and went to Virpil.com. I already knew my "close second" choice included some great features; exterior friction adjustments, a very nice adjustable wrist rest, an analog brake axis, the ability to rotate the grip for better ergonomics, etc so I ordered a full kit with the latest grip and gimbal, paid by card, and happily read each email update..... Until they stopped after "payment completed". It was basically 30 days after I paid (and a support ticket) before my order supposedly shipped, and it took nearly two months after that before it was actually delivered. Mind you this was not a pre-order, the site mentioned nothing about being out of stock, there was no indication whatsoever that it would take SO long. Not a great way to start, I might have actually had the VKB MCG sooner afterall! Physical Aquisition: The shipment was certainly slow, but came double boxed, and the retail package inside was unscuffed. I immediately opened it, removed the various warranty cards/paperwork, and the first (and MUCH lighter) of two smaller boxes contained the MongoosT-50CM grip assembly, unbagged, but safely cocooned in multiple layers of form cut foam padding. After a very quick once over, I removed and opened the "gimbal" box. For whatever reason the much heavier gimbal component was bubblewrapped, but only "held" in place by a simple cardboard cutout that had failed obviously in several badly torn directions during transit. Good thing they used a bubble baggie. One final thought here, if you have ever used a TM Warthog grip, consider yourself ruined because there is no plastic (or even schmancy composite) grip that will EVER come close to it. You have held the pinnacle of joystick "joy"; the Cougar is 1st gen close, but the Warthog is better. The Saitek X-65F is impressive, but about as ergonomic as a metal brick by comparison (and the buttons suck). Be prepared for this slender and ridiculously light MongoosT-50; the sheer magnitude that is The Warthog, and the knowlege that you could physically disable a nuclear mutant zombie with it if need be, will haunt you. To Be Continued....