Jose wrote:
I don't know why, but I never did use the AI much. I rely on the TC,
altimiter, DG, and airspeed to give me my picture, and leave the AI sort
of in the background.

When I mostly flew an Archer, I did the same. Somehow in the transition to the
Mooney, I've becomre more fixated on the AI. Not sure why. I think my scan now
looks like that classic diagram in the training manuals where you look at the
AI, then some other instrument, then back to the AI, then some other instrument,
etc.

I've wondered whether the change is a function of performance / stability of the
airplane. The Archer was so stable it was easy to follow along just using the
result-based instruments. In the Mooney, it became necesary to be more aware of
slight changes in attitude that would affect the performance instruments in a
few seconds.

It also could be a better-quality AI in the Mooney that's easier to read.

The Mooney is the highest-performing airplane I've flown, but I've noticed that
people that fly jets seem to talk / write more about the importance of the AI.

....but I think you are experienced in higher-performance airplanes, right, Jose?

Dave