I just completed a 'permanent' install of the iFly into a custom panel in a KR2. The panel hole was left from a Garmin 196 panel dock. All that was required was to fabricate a simple cross-member from aluminum stock, and bolt it to a couple of existing struts behind the panel. In the cross-member, I simply drilled a hole and inserted a 1/4" bolt with the head custom ground to fit into the iFly.
For those that haven't used a panel dock for the Garmin, it is inset into the panel and results in the Garmin being over 1/2" above the panel surface. Placing the iFly as a surface mount actually results in a panel that is slightly shallower, so there's no practical need to cut a huge hole and try to flush mount the iFly. If you study the sides of the iFly, you learn that all of the connectors are 'above panel' and can easily be connected from the front and at the sametime they are totally invisible!
If you do something like I've done, the iFly's speakers are "open", and the internal GPS antenna is happy. I have an excellent GPS signal, even with the airplane inside the hangar!
If I decide to revert to the Garmin, it will take maybe 10 minutes to pull the iFly and put the Garmin mount back. This is about as good as it gets!!!