That Ideea with the Touch screen is very cool (pitty is not organised like the real aircraft screens are, maybe in future versions) but, if you want to get cheaper why not adapt something else and I am not meaning destroyng a perfectly good X45. Why not "destroy" a gamepad?
Like this one
It costs 15 Euros it has two minijoysticks one 4way "hatlike button" and a bunch of others buttons. Imagine it in a box with a F15 weapons control panel look. The ministicks used as MFD and radar slewing etc.
I plan to build one... after I finish my pit.
this one I mean :) my pit WIP