Is it really that easy to do a USB interface, such as what was done here with the keyboard emulator? PBP 2.46, a PIC w/ USB, and a few simple 'included' files and the required wiring to the connector?

I've been using the FTDI chips all along and just switched over to the CP2103, but I've been wanting to get rid of the 'middle man' with a USB-PIC.
I've been wanting to make some custom PCBs and enclosures for simulated aircraft controls (radios, heading bugs, ya know, front panel stuff) like you'd use with FS2K or whatever (Falcon 4, the list goes on).

Thoughts?