VKB-SIM

Have Gladiator NXT EVO Space & Combat Edition Premium (right, and left, but working with right at the moment). I am used to a competitor's joystick with different layout of buttons AND my hands are small/short & crooked fingers.
Is it possible for me to open things up and move the upper right hat switch to where the upper red button is on the main joystick body and then swap the upper red button to where that hat switch was located?

Joystick would be perfect for me with 3 engineered changes.
1) swap buttons like I mentioned above, so my short little fingers can easily reach 2 of the 4-way hat switches.
2) change the POV stick into another 4-way hat switch.
3) move 'pinky finger' button to the center of the joystick (my finger is too short/crooked to easily reach it).

Because of how I'm using the joystick, I don't use F1, F2, F3, SW1, EN1 or the rudder? at the bottom.
I'm using this joystick to play first person shooters (CS2). I've played these games with a joystick and trackball since 1998. No perfect stick exists, but yours is REALLY close.

Here is the SCG-L board, do you see the possibility of transferring it according to your plan?
You can only replace the ministick with a HAT pushbutton module, but then you will lose the function of switching this stick either to the axis or to the HAT. But you are free to choose any suitable option.

Thanks for the reply.
Does replacing ministick with a HAT pushbutton module require soldering? The ministick is much too sensitive for me, I keep pushing left/right when I'm trying to engage forward/backward with it. That's why I want to swap to a standard hat.

You can only replace the ministick with a HAT pushbutton module, but then you will lose the function of switching this stick either to the axis or to the HAT. But you are free to choose any suitable option.

I don't understand what you're telling me here. Are you stating that I will lose 2 of the axis positions of the stick? Or something else?

Watch this video on replacing the stick with buttons.
The installed ministick on the central button has a uSSw switch function, which allows you to switch it either to two axes or to POV. It is activated by a long press. Therefore, if you install a button module, then, naturally, the axes will disappear.
It is more convenient for me to assign the movement function or the camera in the cockpit to them. The rule that it is better to have more customization options than not to have them definitely works here.

Great video. I'm not sure I understand this:
"The installed ministick on the central button has a uSSw switch function which allows you to switch it either to two axes or to POV. It is activated by a long press."
Are you saying I can press down on the ministick for a length of time, and the ministick will then function like a 4-way hat w/o swapping out to the HAT switch?

Also, I am not using joystick for a flight simulator, so no cockpit. I am playing first person shooters, currently counter-strike 2, in the past, Quake 2, Quake 3, Unreal Tournament, Soldier of Fortune, Serious Sam, Farcry, etc. With the ministick, it is way too easy for me to mistakenly push left when I am trying to only push up. Or push down and left when I am trying to push only down OR left, etc. I only want 4 possible pushes, and definitive areas so I don't push 2 by mistake. That can have dire consequences in game for me.