I kinda concur with the cockpit layout, actually. Figure HOTAS would have undergone some changes over (literally!) 1,000 years.

I do too. It makes significantly more sense for something that literally lets you grab, punch, and hold things. A single joystick can't do that.

I always did like the idea of mecha cockpits looking like this. If your bot has arms and hands you need a more dynamic layout to accurately relay complicated actions.