Like you I dislike relying unduly on GPS, but since about a year ago I bought a little Garmin Aera 500 with a yoke mount, I've become a big fan of it. Certainly worth trying one out, and as they seem to have become quite popular, it shouldn't be hard to borrow one from somebody.
Nothing wrong IMHO for using it for primary nav anyhow - it's using it for sole nav that is where hell and damnation lie.
With a moden moving map, they're generally pretty user friendly - the biggest issues are what you can afford, and what you can fit in your cockpit.
G