I have the Raymarine autopilot course computer with built-in rate gyro, and it handles everything really well, even downwind in significant seas (e.g. ~8 ft) it's pretty good (that is the most ch alleging situation for any AP).

Using "steer to apparent wind" let's me relax and keeps the boat near optimum speed for the course and conditions. Small course changes don't affect VMG as much as speed changes due to bad sail trim... Don't forget variations in apparent wind SPEED also create changes in apparent wind direction (higher wind speed moves apparent wind aft*) so maintaining optimum trim makes much more sense by steering than by constant trimming.

I don't use it when following course closely is critical to navigation (e.g. in restricted channels or when rounding a mark/hazard/ATN on a specific side).

(* corrected "forward" to "aft" with edit)