I'm new to this forum so Hi guys

I purchased Real Flight Sim some years ago when I was using windows 98 but soon after I was forced to give up all hobbies to care for my sweet Wife's 24 hour care after her stroke which went on for all those years until she passed away last year 2014. I recently tried to use the sim but found it wouldn't work so I contacted Real Flight to ask for help. I was shocked to get a reply that it was no longer usable after windows 98 was discontinued

I had the full set along with the interface control. I'm now told I need to purchase the whole thing again. I'm not an IT person, but I have to ask why can't they just have a `fix` to update to windows Vista etc ?
Is there any other RC flight supplier I could use their software and use my interface I have ?
Regards. to all. John