I have my PPL and its so cool how a well trimmed airplane can stay nailed to its altitude and heading (assuming no crazy winds of course).
I find it impossible to replicate this trim behavior in the game and so very reluctantly I have to engage the AP even on the small GA planes I fly like NXCub.
But I make sure to disengage it 7nm from landing and also I hand fly up to cruise alt before turning it on.
Sidenote:
Airliner pilot friends of mine from across the world love to hand-fly their heavies. Reliance on automatics has weakened their stick and rudder skills they said. Specially my Airbus pilot friends (who have all purchased LSAs or rent an old C-172 to get their “pure flying” fix).