Right ON! When I use to instruct a lot, one of the things I stressed big time just prior to solo was getting the antenna out. The student flier simply was use to a buddy box and no antenna pull-out. Get him ready to taxi-out and ask, "What should we do now to fly?" He will come up with a number of things, and laugh when you finally say "Antenna Out".

Don't blame it on not "upgrading". Blame it on lack-of-discipline. RC today is far too easy. Simulators are OK but teach very little as compared to the real thing.
No button on that real thing Trans. to put it back together again.

I don't do Sims. I fly a number of radio transmitters, some with nothing more than sticks and trims. 72 MHZ and 2.4

One simple P. Flt. CK is a CAT check. 1. Controls: Switches in proper place and controls move properly. 2. Antenna out. 3. Trim set.