formationfoto:
Sorry if you think my question is "wrong". Not sure what can be right or wrong about asking how people feel about a particular thing. I understand that it is a question of experience, but I was asking about something I'd read which stated that some pilots refuse to fly IMC Solo without an AP, no matter how much experience they have. Anyway, I take it that you personally are happy to do so.
various people talking about backup AI's:
www.anywheremap.com also make an AI add-on for handheld PC's. It can be integrated with their moving map software. In fact, it is so much like what englishal mentions, the sceptical might think that he is promoting said product and wanted someone else to mention it so as not to fall foul of forum regulations! I've used their moving map software and like many aspects of it, but the gyro bit isn't shipping yet I believe.
skydriller:
The Garmin 196 has a "panel" display. It doesn't have any kind of gyro though, so it is all GPS derived information. It doesn't even try to show an AI, but it does show a turn coordinator (no ball) which is just derived from whether your heading is changing. There is an online review where the reviewer tried to fly on zero panel, just using this device, with a safety pilot. They said it was possible to keep the plane the right way up, but it wasn't very precise.
everyone:
It seems that some people aren't happy in IMC at all with a typical low-end GA plane, regardless of assistance from an auto-pilot or a co-pilot, except mattpilot who can probably fly with his eyes shut. I'm still curious as to how many count on an AP in IMC.