The slider i really useful as it can allow you to stay in the big ring at the front. It's watts produced that dictates speed (well, that and weight and height) so having the slider at 0% doesn't make it 'easier' as 300 watts is 300 watts whatever the realism setting.I would be too embarresed to record that ride.
Have I missed setting a difficulty slider somewhere to 100% or 0?
For races I tend to set realism about 25% (maybe even 50% on flat courses). The aim being less gear changes and lost time as I try to move between front big and small rings. The exception to this is the Alpe where I always set to 100% as i prefer to climb in the small ring.
When pootling around I normally have the reality set to 100%
How fast was your time today on stage 6?