I think there are many way to fly in this Sim.(to play this game) Just got to find your thing.
I’m a beginner as well with less than 50 flight hours.
I found out after trying different planes that I prefer planes wth basic oldschool controls, as I only do Bushtrips. I just hop around from airstrip to airstrip in various countries,
I have The Mobile Companion App on my PC which works together with my iPad. I could use the VFR map in MSFS, it’s not better or worse, but it’s cool to have it on the iPad. That’s the only external software I use.
I could totally play this program (MSFS) just vanilla and the marketplace (I have the Aerolite from there). No real need to install anything else.