These were all great replies! Well with all the info of what -ifs, VFR vs IFR vs changing knobs,To- fiddle or not, eyes- in the cockpit or out,sharing with the passenger, Refocusing to a different size text. With all these thoughts I would take you up on it and make the trip to PACIFIC COAST AVIONICS showroom. I have taken the Dynon class for the Skyview offered by the company in the Seattle area and well worth it. (also offered at a select air venues, check Dynons Website for locations) So pretending as a pilot i focused on the 10" Skyview. Switching thru the windows ,guages,maps,split screen,auto pilot as you all have mentioned. At this point all your points are well taken and applied here. I grew up as a gauge guy and a scan of thirty degrees outside. Not considering here 7" or 10" but how I derive the info for the flight and the safety of that flight. (thinking class airspace B,C,D, or barely never.) Coming into clarity now, what fiddling will do based on the complexity of the airspace. So found that a separate control knob for just the Auto-pilot ( Sold separately by Dynon ) is popular. So with the demo unit having the moving map split screen and gauges were adequate I DID have to change my FOCUS to a SMALLER version of TEXT. At this point I'm wondering if a younger pilot say in his 20-30's feels comfortable and complacent with this SIZE and I think the answer is YES. For me NO. Plus I tend to isolate, that is, separate area for gauge reading.I like trending instruments, (VERT CLIMB) Dynon does very well with this item thats why the second screen with a FULL page exclusively to engine instruments is appealing. I think Dynon could fill a niche buy building a screen with gauges with alarms. I feel a sense of complexity coming out here.As I get older I find the KISS principle a REAl foundation now at my age (60). One surely could design a flow chart based on age/knowledge and their training whether it be EFIS or Steam gauges as there foundation then their amount of flying time in the month could dictate a level configuration for the panel. Now Im going to use MY analogy of the 10". Using my home computer screen and using the RV Discussion page for my example. I scroll down to a question click on it notice how people have answered with .com to check out a item or just a comment and next I find that somebody made note about a advertiser which shows up on the sides of the forum pages and click on that and before I know it i spent to much time scanning for a item but with so much more INFO or overload of reiterated knowledge. I question myself what WAS IT that I came to the forum page for? Heres one point. I LOST MY SCAN! My head was in the cocpit rather than out side. So what is really your thing? Only you know but you'll have to sit in somebodys plane with a EFIS and run the thoughts as I have. Now the plane I fly is Cessna 172 & has a Garmin 500 split screens,a GTN750 and a GTN 650. When I fly I find myself not fiddling with the 500 hardly (moving map screen) GTN 750 pretty much just the frequency thing for com and nav. and nearest. GTN 650 its just there. If I break the visuals down to my ideal panel it would be this way. This basis for simplicity and Bucks forked over. Screens require steps to to get to a feature. I believe when you remove steps from obtaining a feature (lets say larger screen (Class C or B ) or changing frequencies on the EFIS ( feature now being offered) you are looking at reiterate knowledge. As one pilot mentioned just go fly and let the alarms do the thinking. I think steps are removed with this idea. KISS, . Getting back to my Cessna 172, all my flight info for making this flight SAFE is on those screens. All my engines gauges still exist in steam gauge format! Easy scan and to the point. So as my wife likes multi tasking and a EFIS will surely do that but I think now keeping the head outside is better and screens that exist with the info pertinent to the phase of flight. As a instrument rated pilot for 28 years I'm not as excited about all the capibilites of IFR on my Gamin units. Soon to be flying my Dynon in the RV9A, I removed steps, I have not elected for pitot heat, do have the AOA ( Most Important or at the least near the top). I have elected for a separate comm radio, built in ADSB transponder in Dynon EFIS,external flap indicator by switch,and the separate 7" display dedicated to the engine gauges as a full page and a separate panel knob for the auto pilot. I know I'm wasting the abilities of the second Skyview 7" by only posting the engine instruments. Recently i boarded a Boeing 737 with the EFIS and I felt that Boeing went with KISS and staying FOCUSED with individual areas. Mapping,gauges, frequencies,trim. So I will go with the two Skyviews screens,mapping on one and the other engine gauges. I hope I could keep you focused on my thoughts as I presented them.And maybe a little rambling but pull out out what you feel is a focused cockpit for yourself and your flying environment.. Thanks to Dewey at Pacific coast avionics and Dynon.
Ron in Oregon