Look at this from a slightly different perspective, learning to fly full scale. The FAA won't let you work up a flight plan with the new electronic gizmos that calculate everything for you. You still have to use the old E6B whiz wheel to manually calculate your flight parameters. Also, you are not allowed to learn with electronic help such as autopilot or shoot precision approaches with the GPS. The best way to learn to fly a airplane, full scale or not, is to FLY the plane. That means tried-and-proven methods like dead reckoning and seat of the pants feel along with that person in the right seat, or standing next to you: the instructor. Thousands of people have learned to fly successfully without these gimmicks, and to me, they are just needless items that use up money better served in more practical items, like a good radio that will grow with you.

Jesse