ORIGINAL: Charlie
Simulators are worth their weight in gold, they will save you a lot of money in
the long run, but you have to use it as a tool for learning, not as a game.
X2
However it can still be fun. Between hover training sessions, I like to go all out in heli mode and screw around with other model and planes. Good times!
Realize though, that the real Tx you use can be your SIM Tx as well. Phoenix has a version that includes a Spektrum DX5 Tx. RealFlight has a version that includes a trainer box that does not work as a real Tx.
While I have several inexpensive Txs that I coulld use, I prefer the one I plan to fly with, a Futaba 7C.