I guess if everyone looks at the flights sims as simply tools to help one with the learning curve, understanding that it has short comings, for what it's worth, then couples with actual experience will be further along than simply learning from the school of hard knocks.

Well the sim is diferent of course, but I am a realflight taught pilot. I didn't have a mishap untill the aleron servo got messed up and I had my first crash. I think that a sim is definataly helpful if it is all you have, but a buddy box is best.