My daughter attends UT-Austin and the new airport is a Godsend. I always file IFR so being outside the class C is not an issue. We will be regulars at KEDC.
When there is any doubt about any weirdness I prefer to revert to the traditional partial panel mode of flying: disconnect all the automation (pull CBs if you have to), verify trim, spoilers, flaps and undercarriage, manually set the power and use the standby attitude indicator for pitch and roll. Then use CRM to sort out the situation. It's basic airmanship that all the whizbang automation is causing us to collectively lose with each passing generation.
If it is not installed on the airplane and certified under 14 CFR Part 23 then the FAA should butt out. It is the responsibility of the PIC to maintain situational awareness and that means using all available information, regardless of whether that information comes from installed certified equipment or hand written sticky notes and everything between.
In case of conflicting information between installed certified equipment and non-certified sources the obvious correct decision is to disregard the non-certified source and rely on the certified source.
I use an iPad in both VFR and IFR but I always carry current paper sectionals, NACO TERPs, and low altitude charts in my flight bag just in case.
The 180 should be taught as part of the hood training in a private pilot curriculum. A non-instrument rated pilot should never "drive on" in IMC, period. If they cannot afford the time or the cost to earn an instrument rating they should at least hire a CFII to get them through BAI.
