I use default ATC. It has some problems, like I can't change trans altitude and SID/STARS are absent, but it's better than nothing. And I can make pretty much exact plan in FSX. I create a flight plan in CDU, in example EVRA - EDDT. Then I got to create a flight plan, put my origin and destination and then I edit my plan so that it would look like the one I have programmed in CDU. It takes a bit of time, but it's no biggy. And although SID/STARS are absent, default ATC gives you pretty much close vectors to your SID/STAR on take off/approach.

VATSIM is awesome, 99% of the time you are dealing with very professional ATC, very close to the real thing! The biggest down-side to VATSIM is a handfull of pilots on any given day who lack common courtesy and do not bother to learn the basics of how to play nicely with ATC and radio communications protocol. The most common offence I find is pilots stepping on each other, and not waiting for the ATC or pilot's response before keying up the mike.Any given Sunday evening/afternoon, you can expect to put in the hold at BNN heading into EGLL, or Friday night Ops, or Cross the Pond / Ditch...good times!Rob Hall.