Well, I'm a musician (of sorts!) too, and I find that I can't get the springs strong enough on modern transmitters! I think the last stick units with decent spring tension were the Kraft-Hayes sticks used on my Royal Classic Tx.
I think it was Phil Kraft who said "Soft springs sell transmitters, hard springs win competitions!"
And as for the helis, well ALL heli flights were crash avoidance back then!
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Pete