I’d like to follow a plan that at least provides a rough structure, such as Base/Build/Peak and Recovery Weeks with pure endurance rides. On the other hand, I love the flexibility of the XATA plan and the Magic Buckets, which allow me to ride whenever and however I want. My question is whether I can use a Forecast Plan to have a plan with periodization and still be flexible enough to use the Magic Buckets freely and do the planned workout every now and then (once or twice a week).
I run XATA on continuous right now - which means it probably won’t do any periodization. I also get similar workout recommended every day. Also it seem that it always want to fill my available time to the max - even if I have a XSS surplus.
Last year I used Forecast AI and it did suggest a lot more different workouts. It also made better periodization and shifts of the focus.
So I think, unless you know what you’re doing, a Forecast AI plan is probably better.
Both XATA Base-Build-Peak and XFAI plans incorporate periodization during a phased progression.
Xert uniquely analyzes your low and high/peak systems and associated recovery demands and plots a continuous periodization rather than an old-school stepped approach.
Xert does not rely on traditional training blocks of three weeks on, one week off.
If you did want to execute traditional blocks you could do that using XATA Continuous, setting a high ramp rate for three weeks, followed by a rest week, then repeat, changing Focus between blocks.
If you want a periodized phased progression running automatically in background, consider XATA Base-Build-Peak (45 days Base + 45 days Build + 30 days Peak).
The default term is 120 days but if you’ve already established a Base you can jump to Build or Peak phases by entering a closer target date. For example, entering 75 days from now would start a Build phase.
While XATA provides the most flexibility, XFAI offers plenty of flex too.
While the distribution of LIT/HIT/Rest is mapped out for you in advance you still have day-to-day options including indoors, outdoors, select a workout or free ride with or without XMB. Always more than one way to achieve the goal for the day. 
You can also swap days of the week or take an unscheduled Rest day when needed.
If you veer off the allocated weekly course – too little or too much low/high/peak – an Adapt Forecast warning dot will appear. Investigate why by viewing the forecast chart and consider rebalancing the plan when necessary.
What you want to avoid on XFAI is adapting the plan too often especially as you near your target date. But you could stick-to-the-plan by free riding on your LIT days and select a workout or follow XMB guidelines on HIT days.
If you don’t have a specific event to train for you could experiment with both program types and see which you like best. You can flip back and forth. You do lose the prior Start date history when you recast an XFAI plan, but that really doesn’t matter from a training perspective moving forward.
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Thank you very much for the detailed answer. I’ll try both. But tend more to XATA base/build/peak phase according to your explanations.
Whereby I will now do continous first, because I will be on the road a lot for the next 2 months for work.