I love the look of the Gladiator for price, likely great performance enhancement over my 12 yr old cheap Logitech....and hopefully the buttons can be programmed the way I need them....as follows:
Buttons to accept two inputs...F5 is a forward, locked EXTERNAL REAR view....
F5+ E (COMBINATION) is Enemy view lock (in the direction of the enemy)..and the same for F Friendly, etc. To be clear, without F5 in combination with those and other views, your sight slides around in a very unrealistic and impossible to use in combat. With F5 its snap, snap, snap to selected combo programmed visual target. While the game has TrackIR capability, everyone uses the snap views.
If the Gladiator can accept combination programming in the buttons (this probably sounds really ignorant, but I gotta know before I buy)....I am ready to buy.

Just one more question....the classic WWII buttons and flaps....can those be independently programmed for any function...or are those only for flaps....the way the throttle is for....the throttle? I hope not because I need a handlful of programmable buttons to simulate well.
IF there is a different, similarly priced but more "buttony" for the functions above, I would sure look at that as well.
If this stick works for me....since all of my friends and family use the cheap logitech...I am sure I can get them to trade up...and I will get two for Christmas presents.