It sounds like (to me) that you are the kind of pilot that the Garmin 396
and 496 with XM downlink is made for.
I agree. I learned and flew IFR in the RDU area for the past 7 years. The 396 is a real game changer for light a/c in the SE US

I take strong issue with that. The =conditions= are what the weather
downlink are great for. However, a pilot that has little VFR
experience, that then becomes an IFR rated pilot and wants(*) more
gadgets in the cockpit so he can fly "weather" is a dangerous one,
because (1) he hasn't learned to look out the window FIRST AND FOREMOST.
That is what lots of VFR experiences does, and I question the wisdom,
especially now, of allowing people to pursue and get instrument ratings
too early in their career, and (2) he's looking for electronics to
replace judgement. While electronics are a great aid to avoiding
weather, it would appear that this "ideal pilot for the 496 downlink"
would be looking for weather.

(*) I know the OP is not this kind of pilot.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
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