controlling the virus c

[slicetwo]

howdy all! i've been a member here for a bit, but i've barely ever visited the site... silly me!

i have a multipart question...

1. does anyone out there use FLStudio as their main DAW?
2. if so, how do you got about automating your virus? do you use the midiOUT channel and then assign CC to each knob? do you use the virus dashboard (which i've never been able to get to work)?
3. have any of you tried REKONAUDIO's VST virus controller? i've never been able to get it to work in FL at all... complete waste of money...

any help would be much appreciated. i'd really like to almost get TI functionality out of my C, but i know that's a pipedream.

my setup, in case it's needed, is this:
windows XP with FLStudio 10.0.9
presonus firepod with the midi out going to the virus.
novation remoteSL hooked up via USB for my midi in to FL.

thanks so much!!!