I can imagine blind people are really interesting for phantasia studies whether born blind or VI or became VI/blind. I know some blind people compensate after sight loss by using hyperfantasic style skills. Others lose their visualisation like Prof John Hull who several years after becoming completely blind talked about "deep blindness" which didn't rely on visuals or visual memories.

I'm aphantasic or at least I'd say nearly so, and didn't even realise people could literally visualise things like a sunset or sheep to count to sleep or whatever. They are definitely trying to determine while some aphantasics have a good sense of direction and others like me have a horrible one. A lot may come down to people's methods. Some people rely on landmarks, other people are using purer spatial reasoning.

I know some VI folk who have a very good sense of direction, and others who don't, the latter struggle a lot more cos they don't benefit as much from mobility training and can get given a lot of "you're not as good other blindies" type shit. One of my students once had dyspraxia and was losing sight, I had to explain to him he may struggle more (which was the reports we were getting from those around stude), so needs to insist on more training and support.