I'm right behind you in age. Yes it's allot easier on the sim to do switchless inverted plus there is no fear factor. Everything goes to jello when it's the real thing, been there, done that. I found it to be the easiest to learn on the sim doing nose in inverted hover. Fly the nose only. Do the same thing up stairs with the real heli and slowly work your way lower over time .I'm still 50 feet or so up with mine and can cut grass on the sim. I know how you feel....

Scott