I'm happy to see you mention my "completely free open source plugin" (At least I hope it is eclipse.baeyens.it you are referring to). 
Not sure how it compares to the visual studio plugin so I can't confirm/deny that it "is not as easy as Visual Studio". I hope you know what you are talking about.
I have been in software development for decades now with lots of different IDE's (amongst them microsoft visual studio) and from my experience I'm completely with Lefty when he states
just at first appearance to me looks like that the MS studio IDE is much more intimidating and complex compared to the the very simple and easy to use and understand arduino IDE.
The Arduino IDE is extremely simple letting the newbie focus on the important stuff. Any real IDE is to complex for a newbie. There are to many windows; to many buttons; to many short cuts; to many menu items; ....
I considered (but rejected) to make an "arduino simple perspective" in eclipse to have the same simplicity in Eclipse as the Arduino IDE offers. I decided not to do so because I would have to spend lots of time and never get to the Arduino IDE simplicity. Even if I could I would lose the power of the IDE.
What I'm trying to say: You have developed (or are supporting) a very well written free plugin in one of the worlds best (commercial) IDE's. Which is great work which will be appreciated by many. However any statement in the sense of "as simple as the arduino IDE" is undermining your credibility amongst the more experienced of us.
This is what makes me say "I hope you know what you are talking about." in the first part of this response; cause I think you do not.
All the best to you
Jantje