Bigger flies better. They are easier to see, feel slower even though they aren't, and don't get tossed around by wind turbulence as much.

Foam crashes better, balsa flies better. Some Gorilla Glue or foam safe CA and kicker and you can be back flying the next day with foam. Balsa requires considerably more work to repair even with a minor crash. However, because balsa flies better, it crashes less assuming the pilot does his part.

You need an instructor. The simulator helps, but it won't teach you proper piloting technique. It also won't teach you how to do a thorough pre-flight check, how to set up a plane properly, or how to do repairs properly. In the very early days of this hobby people taught themselves, usually transitioning from free flight. But that experience had taught them about proper setup (the precision there puts most of our planes to shame) and most radios were only single channel rudder control. You will likely crash whatever you buy if you try to figure it out on your own. A few people don't, but the vast majority do.

You can put your zip code in at Academy of Model Aeronautics to find a club. Yes, the club will cost money. But it won't cost as much as crashing multiple airplanes due to not having flying skills.

I'd be very thorough about checking out that PT40 before buying it. You said it's been crashed, so were the repairs made properly? Has it flown since being repaired? Is the engine in good shape and reliable? How old is the battery? What radio and receiver does ti come with? It's possible to find bargains on used stuff, but a cheap used plane can also be the most expensive way to get into this hobby. If you have to repair the plane, put new bearings in the engine and clean it out, replace the battery, replace the radio, replace the tank and lines (lines and stopper need to be done every year anyway), and put new wheels on it, you'll wind up very close to the price of a new plane.

I'll also address a common error in thinking I see in new pilots a lot. This hobby isn't about a one time purchase or a purchase here and there. Think of it more as an ongoing investment in yourself. Create a monthly budget for this that you can live with. That lets you buy what you need and improve your collection when you are able. You'll need fuel and parts here and there, so go ahead and plan for it. I allow myself $60 a month. That covers fuel and parts. If I break something or want to upgrade something, I just wait until I can pay for it out of that monthly allowance. Of course, if my wife wants to get me a birthday or Christmas gift some of the bigger items show up then. But the point is that you'll need funds to keep this hobby going.