The answer is YES!!!!!!! YES,YES,YES!!!!!!

I have a guy at my field who has been on a buddy box for 6 months. I have a Nexstar and used the sim for a month before flying. My instructor never took the controls from day one. Im not saying everyone will pick it up this fast, but it will DRAMATICALLY cut your learning curve.

Get the sim, it will be the best money you will ever spend!!!!!! Or buy the Nexstar and you will have one already.(sim limited to only the Nexstar)

Sean