If you want to get started, you can download DCS World for free (a combat simulator, but very realistic with free-flight modes and VR support) and play that until FS is out.

Depends on what you want. X-plane can look quite nice if you invest in scenery from e.g. Orbx. I think they just announced southern California; which looks pretty nice. I use Ortho4xp to generate my own scenery. And for Europe there's simheaven.com with detailed 3d scenery generated from open street maps and other sources.

Obviously the new MS sim goes beyond that in level of detail as they have better data and the know how to post process that. I suspect, X-plane 12 might try to close the gap a little again and of course the flight model is where X-plane shines traditionally, which for a lot of pilots is a reason to prefer this simulator.

My kid has an X-Plane rig and there's a lot of cool plugins, aircraft, and addons available right now to use. I don't know if or what the 3rd party market for FSX20 will be or when it will be available so it's all a matter of your timeframe.

If you're lazy or won't use anything more powerful than a phone, you might as well play with toy simulators and/or Infinite Flight.

https://infiniteflight.com/

> And by that I mean I never managed to land without crashing. :)

Sure you weren't just playing in Launchpad McQuack mode? :)

All indicators point to MSFS2020 blowing X-Plane out of the water in every metric.

As far as graphics go yes. But xplane has some great mods and a well established community. For example, you can download a free 737 that has a fully working FMC with all the buttons in the cockpit working. This was made by a community member. It's the gold standard 737 people download and use.

Take flying lessons.