I was just considering that with limited budget maybe it would be better for me to buy enhancing things register fsuipc, rxp garmin and flightline gauges, wx radar etc. rather than complete aircraft packages.  The benifit is that I would be able to add payware level functionality to default and freeware planes with the enhancement options available.  Good value.  What do you all think?

I think I will go with registering my fsuipc and buy some rxp avionics.  There is a WX available at sim-market that is just as capable as rxp's but only $14.99 USD and no frame hits required like rxp's would (I always fly with 3D cloudes minimized to keep FPS higher).  Don't really need FS navigator because I download and print out charts from several sources.  Besides, it's not INS, FMC, or anything resembling an actual aircraft system (too simmy). I think I will get the hetline gauges along with the Garmin's from RXP as I always enhance most freeware panels above and beyond what the original authors do.  I have yet to find a freeware panel that I can't find some way to make more realistic even if it's just in terms of gauge placement.  I would rather be inconvenienced with extra pop-up panels and have proper left seat perspective and gauge placement than artistic liscense which is so often used to make a panel more "sim" friendly. Oh yeah, do tell please.  Does Active Sky cost FPS in order to get the best realism out of it?  If not, I might give it a try.  I am most concerned with a pictoral representation of conditions that would emulate an uplinked NEXRAD picture or that of a Stormescope, preferable one that doesn't demand a high percentage of 3D cloud draw.  I am only concerned with 3D cloudes that my plane is flying through, not 3D cloudes that are miles away.  I want my weather to simulate shear, microburst, proper winds aloft, and of course the varying vis conditons with minimal FPS cost.

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If you decide to go with Active Sky, wait until the next version is out. Right now its version 4.5. They will be releasing a version 5 shortly that has a bunch more enhancements