The sooner you make the switch to Real-Time, the better. Easier to exit quickly in RT. Maybe never lose your car in unexpected forced encounters in RT. All Town Control is in RT. All public locations are in RT, including Glow, Waterworks, Themepark, Gordon's Gas Station, Toxic Caves, Stables, Warehouse, Mariposa Military Base, Sierra Army Depot, Talchem, etc.
And you want to do quests right? Some are so bad in TB, people will walk out.