I think it is the software not agreeing so much with your PC. I have had the same problem with my DFGT ever since I got it. I haven't had it get stuck until I unplug it, but the 1 or 2 seconds, I have had. Always in the heat of a race, or a hotlap. Interestingly, absolutely nothing responds in the time when this happens. if you select escape to pause, it still does nothing... And that's on the keyboard, not the wheel. But to confuse all further, I've played my DFGT through Logitech profiler over 3 different PC's in the year or so I've had it... Still happens. However, the wheels never does that on the PS3.
However, I haven't had it again ever since I opened up my DFGT and fixed it's center (was about 2 degrees off center). I corrected it, and reinstalled Logitech profiler, and then re-set the buttons in GTR2 (the pedals were now working properly. Before they were getting nothing until about 50% down... Only in GTR2, and the button for the pedals was saying JOYI S0+ and JOYI S0-. And steering is JOYI X+ and JOYI X- (don't know if steering is any different.
I think you better just play around with it, Uninstall profiler, install it again with the wheel unplugged, when installed plug the wheel in. I don't know if it will work, but as I said, just play around.