A hardware solution is surely ideal, but the problem is it's extraordinary price. Such a panel costs several hundred €, not everybody can or wants to spend that amount of money for his hobby.
In FSX the clickable VC works very well for me, I use it almost exclusively. I change view just with my joysticks hat-switch. Hitting the buttons is usually no problem, they are not that small. Most aircraft have additional pre defined fixed views available, that give me quick access to all relevant parts of the cockpit. By default the A key switches between them, if you're in the VC. No problem to start an engine in less than a minute. However I mostly fly classical single or small twin engine prop. planes, more advanced airliner cockpits might be something different.
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