Actually the simulator is a great tool for working things out because if you sit down and practice for 2 hours on the simulator, you can generally get 2 hour of stick time in, if you go the field for 2 hours you will be lucky to get 30 minutes of stick time in. I remember purchasing the first version Real Flight simulator that came to the market, it had a yellow Extra 330 with red and blue trim as one of the aerobatic airplanes choices and it was not vary 3D friendly, but I spent almost 2 1/2 years on it and wore out three transmitters practicing and playing with it, and then applying what I learned every time I went to the field. Now keep in mind that I had already been flying R/C a great many years prior to buying the simulator but I would say that it improved my game for sure . So in my opinion, it is not a bad way to go for anyone wanting to improve.

Bob