I get what both sides are saying, but the fact remains, as someone in the market for a new joystick, I want one with separate axis and progressive cams, realism be damned.
The reason is simple:
When using the warthog: When I command 50% right stick, I have to exert a fixed amount of force. If I then add aft stick in addition, the force required to keep 50% right stick goes up (equally, the force required to command aft stick in this instance is higher than without the right stick input). The force required to command an input on one axis should not be affected by the input of the other axis.