I don't look at Bob's comment as criticism. Envy, maybe.
But it is quite possibly for most people to get something similar.
In all, it took about two, to two and a half, years.
I started it one part at a time.
Unlike some of the people who pass through here asking if the Cray Super Quantum computer that they want to buy would be fast enough to run FSX.
AND wanting to buy
ONLY the best hardware to use with it.
I often spent weeks, or even months, deciding what I wanted.
And slowly, ever so slowly, I saved my money.
At Christmas time, and for birthdays I asked for "gift" debit cards.
After getting one thing, Id' start wondering what was the next "most important thing".
When did I buy? Mostly before Christmas. Often the best time for hardware sales.
I was in a slight rush because retirement. In one form or another it
is coming down the pike.
To simpit, or not to simpit, that is the question....I'm a kinetic person. I would much rather flip a switch, turn a knob, move a lever, or press a button.
If I had to use a keyboard, I wouldn't. I'd find something else to do with my time.
It's been about 46 years since I was actually behind a yoke in a Cessna 172. In all probability, I'll never be there again.
But this equipment helps. It makes it more real for me
(and is a whole lot cheaper).
Looking at a screen and using a mouse & keyboard as the only input would bore me to tears.
Putting a lot more money into it wouldn't help me all that much.
We all have our own wants and needs. Mine are pretty much what you see.
Some want/need something like that in Jetranger's posting above.
For me, it'd be fun to have a good friend with that large, and complete, of a sim pit.
But I would rather go back home to my own sim.
As for those who want to use just an item or two - There's a lot of room for everybody, and there's no right, or wrong way.