I just found the following website:

http://www.airplanestuff.com

It has a lot of intersting products for home built cockpit construction that is in a "price tier" a bit below the "Megabucks Lottery Winner" level of stuff like the EPIC cards.  

If nothing else.... it has some general ideas about an approach to interfacing and construction that might get the creative juices flowing.

Among other things, interestingly, they use the idea of canabilizing a joystick to get the "interface"... and then they build individual components that "hook on to" that interface.  They even sell the Saitek joystick....either new or already taken apart for you.

The individual modules for stuff like engine throttle, reversers, flaps, gear, and so onlook really nicely made from the images on the site.  Looks like mostly heavy aluminum construction.....not plastic.  You can buy one engine....two...three...and so on.... just stack up the number of control modules you want.

Looks like it is sort of the "next step up" from stuff like the CH Products yoke and pedals.  There certaily is a price jump..... but it is still a lot less than a lot of the other offerings I have seen of this nature.  A set of usb CH yoke and pedals will cost you around $200 to start with.  On the above site, the price point for the combination yoke on control column and realistic pedals that looks a LOT like a commercial jet's actual setup...... is not as big a jump as one might think.

It still is not what anyone would ever call "cheap".  But then again, something like a top end pair of skis these days is almost pushing a grand.

best,

..................john