Gaunty,
Spent most of my VFR time in the NT pre GPS and would have to agree with your statement. As a general rule I would set HDG as TRK and plan on G/S as TAS. Quick check during climb, then at TOPC and again at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of total distance. Some checks were 100+ miles apart, so would start to 'track crawl' with the chart if in doubt. Seemed to keep me out of trouble ...... except for this one occasion when there was overcast at 1000' going from nowhere to somewhere in the middle of nowhere ..... all a learning experience.
