Had a wheel pilot on my Bavaria30, worked very well and held on provided you reefed and trimmed sails correctly when sailing, do not set it too fine re course corrections. Not sure about elec amps per hr, didn't ever check actual use.
Now have had a ram drive system for over a year on my Bav37, also faultless, but easier to use.
Depends a lot on type sailing your doing, offshore then spend the extra, coastal, save the money and spend it on visiting the expensive south coast marinas!!
Ray