Lots of different points of view in this thread.  I've waited until now to kinda make sure everyone was done expressing their individual thoughts.  Now I'll express mine.

I've been a real-world pilot for over 40 years.  That ended about 2 years ago when I got run over by a lady texting on her cell phone and I almost died.  I did professional IT for almost 40 years now too.  So I know how to make my computers run my flight sims "right" during my 35 years of flight simming.  And there was a time when I COULD use expensive rudder pedals I owned while sitting at a computer desk with 7 monitor setups for hours on end flying my sims. 

Not anymore since the accident.  Now I sit in a recliner with my computer connected to my 65" 4K UHD TV, using a (*cough*) "1-button for my brakes" joystick to fly.  And yes....when I press that 1-button (the trigger on the joystick, actually) it does apply 100% braking in P3D.  It will cause even the default F-35 to leave skid marks on the taxiway/runway during SLOW taxiing when I do it.

So....is any of that PMDG's fault?  Hardly.  Would I LIKE an option to "disable" the possibility of me nuking my 747 brakes and tires because my only option now IS to use a joystick for braking?  Of course I would.  But that's not an option I have.

Those who know me here know I get totally frustrated by sim users who won't take the time to learn how to use their own computers, Operating Systems, hardware, and the sims they buy.  In that regard, I agree with most of Ephedrin's post above.  P3D is not a GAME.  It is not Tetris, nor Call of Duty, nor anything else that can be run on a "console" gaming platform.  And it's not programmed to run on a Macintosh or any other Operating System other than Windows.  So if you hate Windows and Microsoft, you really should find another way to spend your time.  P3D is a simulation of real-world flying, and can get very complex in it's platform AND user knowledge requirements.  The days of our flight simming being "plug and play" ended a long time ago if you want to use complex flight sims and addons.

But at the same time I can also relate that some people simply CAN'T (or won't) upgrade to the latest and greatest hardware, and will be using "older" hardware...like a "1-button brakes" joystick.  So be it.

So...the question becomes, "Can the user MAKE that 1-button joystick work properly with the PMDG 747?"  

The answer to that is yes.  Yes...Yes...Yes.  Follow the recommendations of many of the experienced flight sim users (and PMDG development team members) who have told you HOW you can do it in this thread. It works.  I've been doing it with the 747-800 (along with others here) with no issues whatsoever.  You can land and taxi without nuking your brakes and tires while using a "1-button for the brakes" joystick.

You own a state-of-the-art flight simulator...not a game.  You bought an expensive PMDG state-of-the-art airplane for it.  If you don't have (or can't use) state-of-the-art hardware with it, do what you MUST do to make what you ARE using work.

But whatever you do, please don't complain that a developer like PMDG should "water down" their products to "fit" the hardware you are using.  There isn't a "switch" or "setting" in the real 747 that would prevent me from setting the brake pads on fire and blowing out all the tires if I "abuse" the brakes in the real airplane.

Respectfully submitted.

Edited October 17, 20187 yr by FalconAF

1 hour ago, FalconAF said:

But at the same time I can also relate that some people simply CAN'T (or won't) upgrade to the latest and greatest hardware, and will be using "older" hardware...like a "1-button brakes" joystick.  So be it.

 

After my posting above I was curious too and played around with my axes I have. One of them was used for flaps but I can easily move my flaps with buttons too. So I went into FSUIPC and assigned that axis to the 747 brakes. No issues at all, instead using my feet I simply moved my hand.. For example with the CH Flightsim Yoke has the yoke axes plus 3 "throttle" levers on top. even if one is used for the throttles, one for the speed brakes there is one that can be assigned to the brakes. And even if one has a simple 3+1 axes joystick (flight controls plus throttle) and wants to use an axis for the brakes there are really not expensive  throttles out there to put next to the joystick. I mean, a single fill up of the fuel tank on my car costs more than those throttles. 😄

Edited October 17, 20187 yr by Ephedrin

4 hours ago, Ephedrin said:

I mean, a single fill up of the fuel tank on my car costs more than those throttles. 😄

Heck.  I could have bought a whole brand new luxury car over the past 30 years with all the money I've spent on my flight sims.  And still had money left for gas.  😅

I really should see how much that Commodore 64 sitting in my closet is worth on eBay.  I might be able to trade it for one of those new spiffy nVidia GPU's.  😁

Edited October 17, 20187 yr by FalconAF