No, I don't mind a whiz wheel, really. You can hold it up, operate it with one hand and keep an eye on what's going on outside at the same time.
(Most students let go of the yoke (haven't quite worked out rudder to keep wings level yet, but that doesn't matter cause they're looking down anyhoo) and concentrate fully on a little half by 3 cm screen for the next two minutes.)
Mental maths first, double check with the whiz wheel.
Plus, no batteries to go flat.
