Having flown FSX for years it was overall a fine experience after finally getting it to run smoothly. Now it's back to FS2004 ACOF for my flight simulator, shelving FSX for now. Am especially grateful to Simviation for helping me gain needed files to allow FS9 to operate in W10, to help dress out the scenery, and catching up with some planes that were long lost friends. Thank you. The faster downloads of mesh files alone makes my premium membership here more than worth it, it helps to round out my several buffer meshes.
Have got a half-way decent modern computer, not a top-shelf one but it's no slouch either. It's running FS2004 @ 60 frames per second all sliders right except for ground shadows and traffic @ 60%, then throttling things back with half V-sync rate on the nVidia card and my 60 hz monitor for a buttery-smooth 30 frames/second. Never stutters, never crashes, looks acceptably good once configured well, and it performs all I personally want in a flight sim. Most of the files are freeware, only payware for some terrain (systematic buffer meshes and textures) and environment enhancements.
Truthfully, I'd likely be continuing to fly FSX were it not for 2 of my 3 favorite payware planes no longer being available, a hard row to hoe for me. Liked to broke my heart. Hence, FS2004 has soothed sorrows over having spent a small fortune literally on FSX over the years. Have also tried out several other of the more recent flight sims, and if ever to jump in to one then it would no doubt be X-Plane. Their ATC still leaves a lot to be desired but graphically and flight dynamics-wise it's a really good, enjoyable flight simulator. A bit more affordable as well, so far as can be seen thus far.
Ahhh... feels good to have written all of that. Let's see how it goes here now.