Skittles, this isn't in response to you, just the (common) opinions you express - consider it a group hug.
Pam you sound as if you disapprove of people having problems with the product. I hate to be blunt but this is a payware aircraft, and I expect quality and proper beta testing.
Once again I hate to say it but the 'give the guy a break' reason doesn't stand with me. It didn't have to be released when it did, and it certainly could have gone through better beta testing.
when people get frustrated after spending hard earned money on a product then find it substandard.
One of the most misused and mistaken business policies is "the customer is always right" - created by businesses who were afraid to lose customers to the competition in a time of economic growth.
I don't disapprove of people having product issues. However the 'freedom of speech' that comes with the internet has taken a turn for the worse... every day we see people who hop onto forums and for their moment of fame voice opinions. Do they ever show their qualifications?
Have they any (in this case) real-world flight experience to compare to the model? Have they researched the real plane to determine if a 'fault' in the model might be a real aircraft issue? (Remember the Martin B-26> It was considered a death trap until pilots were taught it's quirks as a high performance airframe, or the deadly F-104 -with almost no wing at all?) Have they decent equipment equal to the task (the $25 joystick and no rudder pedals is no way to judge a helicopter's flight characteristics unless the target market is the lowest common denominator)? have they properly calibrated their human interface devices? Yes to all the above? OK
... but then have they first, before blowing something off in a public forum contacted the modeler to determine if he/she is aware of the 'flaw' and if skilled in FDE design, offered suggestions for a 'fix'? If "yes" and the poster is willing to document that then I'll say they can flap their gums with some justification and maybe even my support. If no, then I'd like to see the badge of superiority they got in their Cracker Jack box.
Sadly, a lot of customers want authenticity but rant about the faulty steering (because it has no steering but differential brakes/power), the huge amount of runway the model uses (without reading historical documents that the aircraft was underpowered for the first 5 years of it's production), etc. etc. Others expect version specific models (but don't charge me extra).
The most telling point is that the average customer who rants, complains, whines or belittles rarely says "thank you for this, but I noticed..." - it's more often "this is a piece of crap" without a hint of politeness or respect for the fact that the modeler (and/or team) has spent hundreds or thousands of hours bringing to market something that people whined for because it was otherwise unavailable. Maybe, just maybe, if it was a $250 add-on I'd be more tolerant but in most cases it's a weekend's worth of beer or half that crummy meal in the restaurant.
That's not to say every model is perfect. A lot have flaws and some get fixed more rapidly than others -more often than not because someone contacted the dev. and offered data or help. On the basis of perfection as a standard however, there wouldn't be ANY payware and then where would we be? There's not a lot of free stuff coming out for any sim., and esp. FSX.
Somewhere at the top of the Outhouse forum page there's a line that says:
Let Being Helpful Be More Important Than Being Right!
Somehow I don't see unsubstantiated complaints by persons sheltered by 'usernames' in a forum the developer may not even read as being 'helpful'.
BTW, this particular model/discussion/thread is a lot more gentle and friendly than many... some have almost made me vomit - it just happens to be the topic du jour. Don't take it as personally folks. It's my day for waxing philosophical.
(Remember Mike Stone!)
Rob