there doesn't need to be anything different about it since it's the only affordable shifter out there. it's not a rip off because as hard as it is to find one it's usually around the same price as retail, so you might as well buy it new.
I just got an email from act-labs telling me about their new shipment of shifters. It says they're only making 500 of them for now but they might make more in May.
i had mine for almost a year and it's fine. i dont know if its revision A or B but the "problems" with these pedals are usually easily fixable. like the constant spikes in the pedal inputs usually only occurs after i don't use them for a long time and im guessing it's just a dirty potentialmeter or something, i just quickly press and release the pedals a couple times and that usually cleans it out.
unless you guys are talking about the pedals completely dying then that's another thing which i havent experienced yet. i'd like to know the reason why the pedals would stop working suddenly with only a couple months usage because now-a-days there's this common belief that dfps have crappy pedals even though i've been using them fine for almost a year.
EDIT: i just realized i went off topic, i think the wheel should work fine since the hardware is the same it shouldnt make any difference when using english software with it.