Hi Eric
Here a Märklin fan from France with a CS3 and Rocrail control.

Just my opinion:
- The CS3 is a very nice and powerful unit (I don't regret its purchase).
- I agree, controlling switches (especially when you have a lot of them) is not convenient on such a small screen with a finger. Rapidely a pointer device (mouse) is needed
- using an external PC with a large (touch) screen and RealVNC Viewer, the CS3 screen can be displayed a much bigger way.
- since 2013, I use Rocrail to control my layout (50 to 60 switches, DSSs, etc) and it is working very fine BUT PROVIDED you don't try to control switches individually
- rather, it is about automatic train control: a mix of fish-bow operation and schedule operation.
- not controlling switches the digital way, is for you to give up the full digital control (no automatic selection of routes, etc)

It all depends on how you want to control your layout:
1 - a very low level way (selecting each switch, each signal) in real time
2 - control the layout from a much bigger perspective (you don't bother with details (track occupancy, compatibility of selected routes.

Selecting 2 means a sofware control like Rocrail, could help you a lot
Selecting 1 means that, indeed, controling switches and signal the manual way is more fun for you.

Just as an example, here is my control panel with Rocrail


In this example, you may:
- drag and drop trains: they will only obey if it is safe to do so
- set all locos in RUN mode: they will operate in the fishbowl mode (Rocrail will select, ramdonly each destination depending on occupancy and many other factors
- run following a schedule mode: each train departs on schedule to a preset destination the schedule being either a fixed time or a duration after the previous moment.

Here is a mix mode (fishbowl and schedule modes)


So I believe that past a certain layout size or complexity, you cannot control each element (switch, loco, signal) individually. You must promote yourself to train company chief.
Cheers
Jean

Hello Eric,
I agree with your take on control of turnouts (or any accessories requiring intervention control).

I have a layout with a CS3+ in a room 2.7 x 3.3 metres, and I can reach all the turnouts (about 20) by hand.
I would like to motorise 3 of the turnouts, but I cannot bring myself to upend the catenary and trackwork to install them.
If I did, I would use the push button control, and not the CS3.


Certainly using a mouse with the CS3 is mandatory and should be promoted by Märklin in that way.
I used the CS3 for 9 months to control my trains, as a touch screen without a mouse because I did not know it was a feature.
What a painful experience that was (compared to my old CS1).

Kimball