A lot of people weren't sold on it at first but the DT folks seemed to like it in the sim. The only side stick experience I've had is about a 2.0 in the front of a Cobra and I thought it was pretty money...
Having actually done it I'll take your word for it. My initial reaction was like MB's. I can't imagine flying w/ sidestick. I mean if body armor and a small (inch or so) shift in your body, is enough to eff with your muscle memory to make you have to consciously adjust, I can't imagine flying with the stick a foot away from where it is normally, not to mention not rotating about a pivot in the floor, but a pivot inches below.
I'm sure getting hands on in a sim would change a lot of minds, but thinking about it, it seems like a learning curve.