I do not really believe that those who pilot an A320, or other kind of Big Iron, do it for fun. They MAY do it for fun TOO, but usually, when you get up there, it's a job, and you do it for the filthy money, mainly.
To use a small plane, that is a flight you may do for fun.
As for your problems with the sim, when you don't feel like flying online, do as I do. When you want to fly a SERIOUS flight, put the AI to zero and forget about the default ATC AT ALL. Pilot your plane like a real pilot would IRL, just discounting ATC interaction (
after all, you're the only one in the WHOLE simulated WORLD who's flying). FS, sadly enough, is harshly limited on some angles, and the management of the flight from the integrated ATC it's one of its worst suits.
...not that at M$ they have ever thought about their lackadaisical coding efforts looking unprofessional, since they couldn't care less about ANYTHING non related to the money in their bank accounts...
There is no such a thing as overkill. Only unworthy targets.