RE: AFB and realistic hovering?
I fly 35% Extra, and Edge 540...and I can say that AFP is very realistic: the way the control react, and the way the plane unload. Hovering, and TR'ing is as realistic as it get...not to start a war, but I think AFP is much better than G2.
I'd move the CG back a bit on the Gile if you'd like...but it should be fine at where it is.
I left my setting at default...but my frame rate is at ~60fps. The frame rate does make a different since it would directly effect your reaction time.
Ryan