Now there, I have to disagree with you.
The Thrustmaster RGT was my first wheel. Within a month, the belt (yes, it's belt driven!) snapped on the FFB motor. Shipped it back to the supplier and got a replacement. That one had a broken shifter. Sent that one back.
The next one came and it wouldn't register the brake pedal (other two were fine)
Got my money back and went for the G25 instead... Not a single problem.
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As for HCM, I love it and would never go back to normal mode (Hell, I'd even seriously consider cheating my way to some money if I ever got low) Yes, the gravity isn't the most realistic of things, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be (Because they're so used to normal mode, which, to me, is not realistic at all)
But as I always say, it's a matter of personal preference. I, personally, hate normal mode.