That's a really neat mod.
How difficult or easy is it to replace hardware on sticks? I recall reading someone's project proposal on Benchmark Sims, where they wanted to put the guts of a cheap Thrustmaster stick with Hall sensors into a 3D Extreme Pro (because apparently the TM sticks feel cheap). I was speculating that they might run into firmware issues, software issues, or other problems when making a Frankenstick. I have to assume it's on a case-by-case basis, but I'd be interested to hear what you did to make that thing work!
A better understanding of these issues might be really exciting, as there's a lot of individual, high-quality parts the individual can purchase on the market today. Just looking at what is listed under CH Product's catalog is droolworthy:
https://www.apem.com/int/...Although considering the costs might induce a heart attack!