So I got the Thrustmaster T16000M joystick recently. Oh my...... This joystick is fantastic for its price range. Back when Freespace 1 and 2 were new I was using the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick, which uses light sensors instead of mechanical sensors. That joystick was very precise and made Freespace 1 and 2 very fun to play. Fast forward to the last couple of years where I have been trying to play this game again and couldn't play with a joystick to save my life, any joystick I bought was horrible and I couldn't afford the more expensive joysticks. I always returned a joystick after buying it when it didn't work to well for this game. Then just a few days ago I bought this Thrustmaster T16000M joystick, which is $50, and it uses Magnetic sensors, which has proven to be just as precise even not more than the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick I had.

Now I am having a whole lot of fun with this game again, and I feel like I am in 1999 again. I tried so many $80 or below joysticks over the years and none of them compare to this T16000M joystick. I really wish I can afford the more expensive Joystick from Thrustmaster that uses the same Magnet technologies as this one does, would be great to be able to play with a HOTAS as well.

Anyways, I am now on he 8th mission in Freespace 1, and loving it.

I agree, the T.16000M has the buildquality of a CH joystick and the precision of MS Sidewinder range.
Best joystick in its pricerange, the only thing I don't like is the TARGET software, they made it way too fancy and lacks the functionality of binding a profile to a game (or they made it so complicated that I haven't figured it out).