Here is the original thread about the AV8R mods that people have performed:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=8533
For me personally the zip-tie mod made a huge difference in my ability to aim. As for the twist rudder feature on the AV8R; it can be a bit twitchy dependent on your sensitivity settings, but it's not impossible to play with. The seperate throttle control on the AV8R alone trumps many of the minor faults people typically find with the stick.