Look at electronic caliper. You can get ones that measure angles as well as distance. Most have a socket on them for reading externally. They tend to use a SPI like interface.
In that case, I can't think that an accelerometer is "overkill".
Alternatives would be some sort of plumb-bob and shaft encoder, but I think you asked for solid-state.
It's a weighted piece of suspended silicon which changes its resistance when it moves
I've seen capacitive and even thermal (the proof mass is the air in the package, and how it moves is sensed by temperature sensitive elements) accelerometers, but no common ones using resistance - which device are you using?
This ADXL345 is dynamic acceleration resulting from motion or shock, also well suited to measures the static acceleration of gravity in tilt-sensing applications.Its high resolution (4 mg/LSB) enables measurement of inclination changes less than 1.0°.
The price is good and the temperature limits are like -40 to 105 degrees C
just have to figure out how to get the info -- the link above includes a PDF Schematic data sheet and library
I think a non-mechanical solution would be less prone to problem over the years. Also pots tend to require a lot of force to move, maybe a shaft encoder would be better.