You are always going to be faced with paying for Airways planning as the information is charged for at source under the user pays scenario unfortunately.
I have found rocket route a really useful tool for IFR planning and filing on the go and for what is a fairly small fee I think its worth the money. Certainly a lot less than the cost of the Flitestar updates and with the advantage of real time flight plan filing and updates.
I would suggest you give it a try before you dismiss it as I think you will it will lift your iPad utility beyond the 75% threshold. I have not taken my laptop out of the bag in over a year. The first few months I carried them both but as I learnt how to adapt with the iPad I found I needed it less and less. You will find if you are prepared to change how you do and perceive things you will find it easier to find new and often better solutions.
I have not had a problem with printing, there are plenty of apps that provide print services, I have printopia on my mac that allows me to print from any print enabled application on the iPad to my household printers and if on the road and a really need something printing I either email and get it printed or print to fax using the eFax service. But in reality I rarely print anything these days. I use the iPad instead and those goes for everything from plates to plans. I even have all of my Instructor Manuals and Examiner guides as .pdf files on the iPad.