For track correction I use the 1:60 rule (of thumb, for the purists). It lets me use just about any reasonable distance run/to go & off track spacing I want, making it easy to choose just where I want to join track.
I use 1:60 pretty much anytime I need to translate a lateral spacing into an angular deviation (off track correction is an example but there are other uses too).
What's wrong with using the whiz wheel in flight? It's no worse than writing clearances, a nav log, the occasional plotting task, studying an approach plate, using a checklist etc etc etc. As with ALL the tasks we learn to do the key is to cycle between them so that no one thing is left unattended for long AND the most important tasks get a higher priority/more attention. It can be used 'held up' and not down near one's lap too.
My whiz wheel gets used a lot in flight. Takes a couple/few seconds for simple jobs. Things I use it for: TAS calculations/groundspeed & ETIs/1:60, although often done in my head too/using an off track DME to derive along track groundspeed/calculating fuel eg what will I need to upload & where + conversion units etc etc