Well, I actually wasted my time at support and sent them an email about my joystick not working in this game. Here is the text:
Response (Jason) - 10/02/2007 10:36 AM
Tony,

Unfortunately we don't have detailed information on how to configure
each controller model to work with the game, since there are literally
hundreds of models. However, try installing the patch from
http://support.ubi.com. If you continue to have this problem, I highly
recommend you ask this question on the forums at http://forums.ubi.com.
The developer, as well as many other users frequent these forums and
I'm sure can give you detailed instructions on how to resolve this
matter. Thank you.

Customer (Tony Sharp) - 10/02/2007 07:17 AM
Is there going to be a patch to fix the joystick issue in this game? It
is in the forums that it is broken, mine doesnt work either. I have
patched to 1.01 and 1.02 and does not fix the problem. Is it going to be
fixed? Thank you

So, duh, I even tell them I have patched and the joystick does not work, just like everybody elses. And they tell me to post it in the forums.

So......

Dear UBI
My joystick does not work in Blazing Angels 1. I have patched the game with both 1.01 and 1.02. The joystick still does not work correctly. Even if you go into the settings program and try to set it up, it always detects everything as button 17.
I have an XPS with a Microsoft Sidewinder 2 on it, a pretty common joystick, matter of fact, one of the most widely used sticks out there at one time.
So, it shouldn't be that -hard- to fix. Windows picks up my stick just perfect and detects the buttons and axes correctly. So doesn't every other game I have on my box, they ALL work perfect. With the exception of this game.
So, is it really this hard to get a stick to work correctly in the game? Remember, I...like everyone who has posted this problem has put about $30 bucks in your pocket and it does NOT work as advertised (joystick supported!)
So, how about taking some of the money we gave you and get a programmer to fix this? It shouldn't take much to fix a little problem like this.
So.....give us an answer. I just threw my money at you for something that does not even work and now I am stuck with it.

Actually, I will be returning my game to CompUSA in 30 days if this issue is not fixed. I will tell CompUSA to review games on their shelves for similar or other widely reported problems in forums and ask them to be removed from their shelves. I am a CompUSA business customer and I am sure they will not want to disappoint other CompUSA customers by allowing obviously defective software to be sold from their stores!

you know, that was the same place I bought mine. What is their policy on returns for software? Its opened of course.....