The HOTAS is not that stiff.... It is exagerated, some people sound like you would need a ton of force to move it lol.
I disagree that a 25$ stick does the same... But i agree that for example a X-52 does the same, however it feels less real.
Decision decisions.
P.S.: I tryed my HOTAS in BF3 out of curiosity, you can forget that. You cannot move the stick fast enought due to weight to compete with all the kids flying with a mouse hahaha...