Has anyone ever had any experience with the inside hydraulic steering for a stern drive this is the system that the ram goes right in where the old manual cable would mount
thanks

Weak. You’re still dealing with the tiller arm and shaft issues. The robustness of the external rams cannot be beaten by a 1/4-inch thick piece of steel and a 5/16” bolt. Sure, you might gain some precision via the removal of the cable, but you still have the weak parts in the transom assembly. And when the tiller arm goes bad, you lose steering control.

agreed. I just installed external this winter, can't wait for spring.

2nd best upgrade you can do in my opinion.

What's the first?

new boat.

Buying full waterproof boat covers to protect your investment. They are relatively inexpensive for the protection you get. $300-$700