Nope, RF4.5 isn't sold without the controller.

Some observations about RF4.5:
It is $200 from Tower.
Real Flight has updated the Add-On packs they marketed for earlier versions to run on RF4.5.
There are 5 of them, almost more content than contained in the basic 4.5. They're worth $150 and are free.
Real Flight has continually developed additional content that they now call Expansion packs.
They've created 5 of them so far.
Right now, they are $33 each at Tower.
You are not required to purchase any of them.
Nor are you required to download or install any of the free content available in the Add-Ons that RF rewrote to be usable on RF4/4.5.
The developer also maintains a website that offers additional free content for download to expand your installation.
There are hundreds of skins and standalone models available on that website.

Tower lists the minimum hardware requirements suggested for adequately running RF4.5 as well as suggested requirements to run it with max features.

Almost forgot, the original 4.0 code and the 4.5 code has had a number of updates to the code fixing bugs in the released code.





The original poster has gotten a complete answer to his original question. This thread needs no further spinoff.
And the direction this thread is being spun is off-topic to the original question. Completely off topic.