Hi blindspotlighting,
I am not from Laminar Research or XForcePC; just a flight simmer from downunder.
Saitek now logitech products have to be installed through X-Plane. No other way. Not even through your operatinfg system. If you don't, as you have already found out, the products will not work.
What you need to do in the first instance is use a good quality uninstaller program and completely remove from the PC any files that relate to any software already installed to run the components. Then when completely removed dump the saitek software in the bin.
When completed watch the following Youtube videos from Michael Brown.. Michael operates a business called XForcePC which builds PCs for flight simulation and specialises in PCs for X-Plane. Laminar Research recommends this business as the only supplier of X-Plane suitable PCs in the USA.
Although the videos do not relate to the specific hardware items follow the principle/ message that Michael is projecting.
The links are as follows and found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfYiUUZ2DaU then watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBHJeE3xab8 and finally for the main lesson on what priciple to follow and specifically aimed at saitek watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU_TuALAlJk
The first video is a leadin to the second video.
One of the important things to do in the installation is configure one item at a time. Connect the item, turn the PC on then run X-Plane. When complete turn the PC off connect the other item and repeat the process again.
A full list of the informative videos from Michael can be found in this link found at https://www.youtube.com/user/col2mab/videos
Good luck and welcome to the world of X-Plane.
Glenn