P F,
Like GT I don't have too much time right now but I have a question for you. Do you mean use the mental stuff when airborne or when pre flight planning? For what it's worth I teach all my students to plan and fly without using a whizzwheel, then when they are spatially aware I show them the whizzwheel method.
Personally I think the whizzwheel leads to all sorts of confusion and takes about 4 times longer to plan a flight. Also students all too often correct for drift on the 'wrong side'
I'll elaborate later when I have more time, gotta go flying now
cheers
JWF