The gauges really only have two "advantages" that I can easily see. One is that your periphery vision can actually see a general "pointing in the same spot" ar

The gauges really only have two "advantages" that I can easily see. One is that your periphery vision can actually see a general "pointing in the same spot" arrow better than you can read a number without focusing on it. The other is your periphery vision is similarly good at seeing movement, without having to read it. This does not argue against numbers being better if you are looking directly at them. I think I agree there, though I do not have any data to confirm it.