One thing is not clear: What realism level were you playing?
186K on one patrol is pretty incredible. If you were doing this with 90% reality, you have my deepest respect.
Unless you are playing with manual targeting, I don't think that RFB or TMO will be giving you alot.
I think you should stay with the stock game but play on the higher realism levels. Once you get the hang of manual targeting (the whole purpose of the sim, IMHO) then you will more fully appreciate the work put in to the super-mods.
Or you can just jump in to the mods
YMMV