One thing that i don't like for the most part is the SPOT view because it reminds me of the view from FS2004 and not the smooth moving view that FSX offers. SPOT is different from LOCKED SPOT. FLIGHT is using LOCKED SPOT and not SPOT. Hpe i didn't make this confusing as i write this! Free flight was pretty good! I could smash my joystick if i have to hear the voice talking during the missions to get to free flight. Once in Free flight it ran smoothly on my Dell XPS 8300 with GT530 card. My opinions on whether it is a poor product or great one will wait until a year from now and see what downloadable content we get.

If you're in locked spot, and then press the default key of F7 to change the view, don't you move to Spot view?

No, that doesn't work. It just puts you in the CHASE view that F8 does. Might be something in the CFG Camera settings that might allow some changes.