Well, the X-52 has arrived, now just got to learn how to use it!
One complication is that I'm a left-hander and I was operating my old joystick in that configuration.
I had looked, and there are no left-handed HOTAS, basically because, in the real world, there is no such thing as a left-handed aeroplane.
I can understand this and I've no real problem with that. I'm pretty versatile and I've always used my mouse right-handed, it just felt more comfortable that way.
Lots of buttons and switches on the X-52, gonna take a bit of sorting. I think I'll look at the default Elite config first and then see what needs tweaking.
I'm also thinking I might just buy myself a little Sidewinder to practice on, I don't fancy smashing up my Python while I learn the ropes with the HOTAS!