“What the heck is it? would be the average observer’s first question. Looking at the 3Dconnexion SpacePilot, it is difficult to discern exactly what a device like this could be used for. Somewhere between a doorknob, a calculator, and a fragment of a stealth bomber cockpit, the SpacePilot clearly means business. But what type of business?”
It certainly looks interesting. I still have a SpaceOrb 360 which works well (especially when I feel the need for a Descent flashback).
Controllers like this are a niche market generally aimed towards CAD applications, which partly explains the high prices. Having a six axis controller can be great in many other scenarios, especially in games where you have six degrees of freedom.