Flight Simulators - Where to start?

I was an avid flight simmer for a while. My current space in our townhome doesn't allow me to keep my controls out as much as I'd like, so I don't get to play as often as I'd like. Flight Simulator X is probably the standard modern flight sim with the most extensive customization available. There is a new Steam edition which is a bit more efficient if you've got an older rig. Microsoft Flight is pretty, but definitely more of an arcade. I was hoping they'd open up that engine and let the modding community have a crack at it.

FSX is great if you want a wide range of aircraft types and freedom to go where you'd like. Modern computers can run this game not on moderate to advanced visual settings. It was a resource hog in its prime, but most machines can run it in some form or fashion these days. There are some free and paid map upgrades and scenery packs that really boost this game's visuals. However, open world with accurate scale means you don't get photorealistic scenery out of the box. Major cities have accurate 3d building models, but the ground imagery is stock landscapes that mimic what should be there. Like I said, you can go as deep as you want with modding here and find resource packs for just about anything you want. It's still a very active community and someone actually added the new hotel at Denver International Airport before the airport was even completed. FSX is still the gold standard used in professional simulators that are used by major airlines, the military and enthusiasts.

Hope that info was helpful!