I believe we still have a pellet vario on the dash, I did a lot of contests and badges using a paper map and looking outside.......and cartridge film/instamatic cameras until I learned to develop my own film. I lost a badge flight due to that........way before dataloggers.
My advantage was a prototype electronic vario (with audio) from Raouf his own self after I crewed for him and his ASW-15 decades ago.