Zulu time where I mostly fly is 8 hours off local time. If the watch is a regular 12 hour watch you have to do a mental calculation for time and as a pilot you learn that the less mental calculations the better, when a lot of things are happening in the cockpit.
It is true that the 24 hour display is cramped. But I got used to it after 15 years with this watch.
I cannot find the exact version that I have online, but this one is the closest:
I think the watch you linked is the Glycine Airman GMT. I believe the standard hour hand actually has a 12-hour sweep (yes, even though the labels are both 24-hour) and only the GMT hand (pointing to the 10) has a 24-hour sweep.
From what you've described, you probably have the Glycine Airman Purist [1]. There is no GMT hand but the regular hour hand has a 24-hour sweep (and you can set the second hour dial).
It is true that the 24 hour display is cramped. But I got used to it after 15 years with this watch.
I cannot find the exact version that I have online, but this one is the closest:
https://www.jomashop.com/media/catalog/product/g/l/glycine-a...
I have mine on a nato strap.