1. Commercial add-on uses commercial data. I know that this exists for at least some MSFS add-ons, and there are reasons why this can be viable or an add-on but not the main sim. I cannot discuss the pricing policies of any specific data providers; you could query them directly but I’m not sure they will talk price without an NDA.

2. Freeware data for small-region sources. Freeware add-ons can use free databases that cover small geographic areas..this is about labor and falls into the general bucket of “why doesn’t Laminar use XXX free data” in the global scenery, where XXX is a free source of data whose coverage is small enough that we can’t spend the time.

This must be the domain of third parties; Laminar cannot replicate the man-hours of a huge number of individual groups working on small areas.

3. It is possible that some free-ware add-ons are using commercial data illegally. I don’t have any information on whether their sources are legal or not, but I would not assume that the existence of the package indicates an above-board license.

If you do find a datasource that is priced reasonably or free, has consistent data quality, and covers a LARGE area, let me know, I am all ears.

Roads are of course so important to us VFR piolots so I really hope they find their way to X-plane as they have to MSFS.

Mike