8 Balls - There are others who do much more of this stuff than I do - in heavies, but here's my 2 bob's worth.
STARS always seem to me to be an ATC thing. I plan direct to the aerodrome and let ATC give me a STAR if they want to (love that "Smoka transition"). Usually the same deal if they want me on the ILS.
The only time I pre-planned the ILS (for currency) they vectored me all over the sky for smooth traffic flow.
My GPS has most of the STARs pre-programmed so it is no big deal to call up the one they give, and I have Jepp Electronic Charts as well.
I think the ATCs computers let them work out who will arrive where and when and they work around that to make it all flow smoothly - which it seems to do much of the time.
I look forward to seeing what the "experts" have to say about this!
R
