OP don't read this - but I'm not gonna lie, 8 year old me had a fairly compelling argument for why the number row is a better control than the most expensive analog throttle; decades later, I own a damned throttle, but it's purely out of conformity/shame and not because I've entirely countered the argument; in fact sometimes when I'm trying to land in planes without autothrottle, or even just set a cruise speed, I curse the inability to just instantly flip back and forth between precise % values. I probably just need a new throttle, but learning to fly with a keyboard and mouse definitely put me on a direct path to learning IFR, programming flight computers, and the more abstract aspects of flying.

But again, OP, don't do this to yourself.