Since the computer software (VIA control LAWs) is doing most of the 'flying' on a modern Airbus, the side-stick seemed a logical control input method - why use a bulky and what many consider old-fashioned yoke with feedback when it is superflous to the task.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the boys at Boeing like to keep the guys in the pointy end happy by putting us in a familiar place. Even though the 777 is FBW, commonality with its brethren is what gives us a yoke. Add the fact that in the event of an electrical system failure, the aircraft's manual reversion would not be possible with a stick
I find the Airbus FBW system a rather elegant solution. It makes the Airbus trained pilots job (mostly) easier and protects us from the aircraft's bad manners during excursions near the edges of the flight envelope.
Trust (or should I say responsibility) EDIT >> Responsibility will always remain with the pilots - bad choice of words on my part - I was only trying to soften the word 'trust' << /EDIT.
Trust is shifted away from the pilots abilities and training and more towards the flight computer programmers foresight - this is the heart of the Airbus philosophy regarding flight controls and related systems.
In my few sessions in an A320 sim (CAE), I adapted quickly to the stick, using the courseware data still very fresh in my mind. (much to the consternation of my many-times-more experienced yoke-mates.)
