Does any one know

[Tim Escobedo]

the problems with those game-joysticks is their reduced rotation-range:
e.g. a 100k pot rotates between 30k & 70k...
(when you control voltages with them, it`s ok, coz U can trim them to zero & max; but once you need the true ohmic resistance...

This is a interesting point. The surplus joysticks I have use a weird taper that actually do sweep across the entire range. The downside, of course, is that replacement pots would be impossible to find, one because the taper, another because of the unusual shaft.

[puretube]

maybe my joysticks were a weird surplus type...?