I have done my due diligence and still find no answers:

1. Can the virtual partner be turned off or disabled so the screen doesn't show during scrolling? If so, how?
2. Can the two fields on the top of the course screen be disabled? (I don't care to be reminded of how many miles to finish the course.) If so, how?

If VP can't be disabled, does the ghost rider continue riding while I am stopped for a pee break or fluid replenishment? (I have disabled Auto Pause, ie the G500 continues to record.)

Thanks -

1 - unfortunately, I don't think so. I've tried. It's annoying, isn't it? There is a slight redeeming value in that the VP page also shows the route profile. This is sometimes helpful when I have been doing up a long climb and I am desperate to know where the damn top is....
2 - Unfortunately, I don't think so.

As far as I can tell, the VP stops moving whenever you stop moving, so it's not even useful as an overall elapsed time pacing tool for brevets. But I haven't looked at this after turning off the autopause. Give it a shot and let us know.

I am not very much help, am I?