I also don't think 2D panels will last long in Orbiter. VCs are better and technically only slightly more complex than making 2D panels. Many visual features are actually simpler in VCs, for example ADI balls. And as I experience everyday in the Space shuttle, the VC is much easier to navigate as a set of 2D bitmaps. The user interface for playing with VCs could be made better though, a joystick and/or keyboard shortcut for temporarily zooming in on the center of the view is often a needed feature.
I use 1280x1024 for full screen and 1024x768 for debugging.