Rick:

If your computer will support the G2, that would be the best $200.
you could spend. Last year it cost me $275.
Unless you set-up wind and gust for flying, the take-offs/landings
are a bit easier than real life. I bought mine to stay sharp during
rainouts or winter freeze.
As far as I know, the G2 is the only one that allows you to set-up
engines from a .049 to a 3W Twin gas with sounds and smoke to
match. With 10 or 12 flying sites you can edit each site to your
own taste. I took the Airport scene and erased all bldgs. leaving
background trees then I had a wide open concrete runway to fly
from.

Randy