To capture the darkness and embrace the light

a neophallus can get erect with an implant (this will either be a bendable rod or a device that inflates with saline at the press of a button, usually in the testicles)

both can feel sexual pleasure and experience orgasm

most neovaginas will be able to tolerate larger insertions with enough dilating/training

the nerves in neophalluses take a while to regrow but it is incredibly rare to experience no sexual nerve growth

both can look and feel "normal" if that's what you want, just take good care of your scars and look at your surgeons' results portfolio (and don't be afraid to be picky! its your genitals, you get to decide!)

in fact it's possible for many people to stealth and for their sexual partners to never know. even for phallo, some people with natal penises have erectile implants too, ED is common. neocaginas are often indistinguishable from natal vaginas

many surgeons are starting to offer preservation options for patients who want a more mixed look/don't want to lose what they have

Its not true that phallo means you won't have any nerves or be able to feel pleasure. Nerves are taken from the donor site and connected to the nerves in the pelvis (like the clitoris), & they regrow so that the new penis develops sensation. The most common type of phalloplasty (RFF, where the skin is taken from the forearm) has high success rates. Dr. Blair Peters is a queer surgeon who specializes bottom surgery & has done a lot of work focusing on sensation; they were the doctor who did the study that found out how many nerves are in the clitoris. He has written a lot of articles looking into improving sensation in bottom surgery & their team at OHSU has a guide on how to improve post-op nerve rehab.

if the kind of sex or masturbation you want to have involves a penis of your own that you can feel, it's a reality you can pursue. you can even keep your vagina if you want to, depending on your goals.

i opted for a pedicled thigh graft because i had some tissue loss on my nipples with top surgery (which used a free flap graft). pedicled grafts are usually a little less risky for necrosis/graft loss, if that is a concern.