My experience with a sim was well worth it.

Weekend, I have only just got into the hobby as well and I dont have easy access to a field or good instructor. I spent hours (30 +) on the easyfly sim and even though it is not exactly like the real thing, you do learn to make thumb movements as second nature. You dont have much time to react in real life and you do feel lots of pressure on your first few flights - pressure can lead to hesitation and/or paniking!

Like I said, I didnt have access to an instructor so I had to solo by myself, first flight. I am lucky that I am in a country area so had miles of space, waited for a calm day, and took off. I just got about 3 mistakes high and tried to take it easy. I was nervous and the adrenalin was pumping! A bit of a bumpy landing but no damage. I have now flown about 30 times and have done a nose wheel but that is it.

The sim is a cheap investment I rekon, and can be fun in its own right. If you spent time on the sim and had an instructor help you on your first few flights (especially to teach you about motors, rx's etc) that would be ideal, but you dont HAVE to.