I understand spending a large amount of time in the 172. I do it myself in Caranado's 182 and 206 and 210.
It keeps it real as those are the types of aircraft that many of us would only get to fly in the real world.
Flying to the Chathams in such a plane if you have the fuel is a very good way of seeing what it would be like do be a pilot flying there and back. Especially if you stay in that seat the whole time. I say good on you for being a proper flight simmer and not a 'gamer'. It is a flight SIMULATOR after all,not a game. Of course we're all at liberty to do what we wish with our sims but I feel I get more out of the experience if I take it seriously and do it all properlt and don't 'cheat'.
If I do it all correctly from wo' to go' or vice versa I really do feel like I've accomplished something. So whoever does this on these long boring flight I say well done and good on you!

If the weather turns on then it's not so boring,it can be downright frightening!
