I've been using FS2020 in conjunction with pilotedge.net to become reasonably proficient as I start to work towards an instrument rating. I found the FS2020 stock G1000 implementation to be quite useless. I upgraded to a realsimgear G1000 (
https://realsimgear.com/collections/gps ... 3d-and-fsx), and the Working Title G1000, and that was quite a bit better.
However, I still found that the Working Title G1000 implementation, while improving on a regular basis, was quite buggy, and you have to avoid certain operations, like certain changes an existing flight plan, or the entire thing freezes. I also found that the RealSimGear is not very well constructed. The buttons and knobs are very rough to turn and press.
About a month ago I upgraded my setup to two iPads running the Simionic G1000 with the Simionic bezels (
https://www.simionic.net/wordpress/shop ... 2-11-ipad/). The Simionic G1000 software is not perfect, but it is much better than the RealSimGear for capabilities, and accuracy to the real G1000. The Simionic bezel is PERFECT. It looks and feels identical to the real G1000. Button pushes and knob turns are very satisfying.
To criticize the Simionic setup:
1) The cost is much higher (two iPads + the bezel).
2) It is not as tight an integration with FS2020. Example: When you setup and enable the autopilot, this will NOT be reflected on the in-cockpit G1000, since the Simionic unit is simply sending flight control inputs to FS2020. This means that using the AP disconnect button on your joystick will not actually disconnect the Simionic AP, and you must press the AP key on the Simionic G1000 bezel. There are other such minor differences. Other functions (like tuning radios, Baro, etc.) do reflect on the in-cockpit G1000. That said, if you are using a setup like the REalSimGear or Simionic, you probably adjust your view specifically so you don't see the in-cockpit G1000, so you don't really notice most of these nuances in practice.
3) Some of the bugs are quite annoying. Example: Often a loaded approach will initially not be setup to properly capture the localizer, and will turn you the wrong way. Typically you can see from the CDI when this is going to occur, and just cycling the CDI source instantly resolves the problem. Other approaches will incorrectly load the altitudes for everything up to the FAF with you current altitude, instead of the correct step down altitudes, which requires you to manually alter the VNAV profile after loading the approach (which fortunately you can do on the Simionic setup).
In the end I have held onto my RealSimGear. It is possible that as Working Title continues to improve they may come out on to again (but boy would it be painful to go back to the RealSimGear bezel after using the Simionic one).