<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Is it easy to set up though? Bearing in mind that I already know how to fly, will I be able to learn how to operate the program fairly quickly, and position/re-position myself onto, say, a 15 mile base leg for repeated ILSs easily?
</font>
Very easy. The yoke can be had in a USB version that plugs into your computer. The software allows you to select an approach chart, and overlays the chart over a map of the area. You can then place your plane, set alt, airspeed, fuel, and fly the approach.
You can also set any failures you want (40% chance of vac failure in 10 minutes etc) set winds, vis, clouds...
I'll drop you an e-mail and you can ask specifics through that medium.