I just havent been impressed with any flight simulator. Most people can do much more in the sim than they can in real life, and its a direct result of the "easy" to fly sim. I just dont see the sims as a viable alternative for real stick time training. They just dont fly like a real helicopter. To me its just a fun video game that resembles RC flight.

I do however think that the sims are great for pilots that already know how to fly a helicopter, and are using it to figure out the stick inputs needed for 3D or advanced aerobatics.

I've seen new pilots get extremely frustrated with their real helicopters when they find out that it "doesn't fly like the sim". Unfortunatly their frustration gets directed at their real helicopter and not the simulator. I just think that the time spent on the computer game could have been better utilized by real stick time.

Many pilots have become too dependant on the simulators, even to the point of considering them an alternative for real flight. Just look at the recent "VR" flight competitions.

Using a simulator to learn on will NOT prevent you from crashing on the real aircraft......EVER.
A prime example is the above. He still chipped his blades. I applaude him on having the intuition to have the heli checked out to make sure it wasnt a problem with the heli, before he directed his wrath on it. Well done. With that attitude and foresight, you'll learn to fly for sure.

You CAN learn to fly a heli without a sim. You dont need a sim to learn to fly. If you practice with a real helicopter in a patient, persistant, manner with good lessons like those found in Radd's flying lessons, you will not only be getting extremely valuable real stick time, but you'll also be up and flying long before your friends that are bunny hopping in G3. Its also more satisfying.

Im not completely against simulators. I fly one too, after all....its fun.
But I'd still rather be flying the real thing, and I think the lessons I learn flying the real helis are far more valuable in the long run than anything I could do on the sim.

Nojoy, I think the Blade would be a good intermediate heli for you. Most people will agree that micro helis are more difficult to fly than nitro birds. I think if you got really good on a Blade, you shouldnt have any problem moving up to a nitro bird. I dont personally plan on ever going to nitro. Im really hooked on the electric stuff. Im done with the nitro stuff. I flew nitro airplanes for years, and I enjoy the hassle/mess free alternative of electric stuff. But if you want to go nitro...go for it. Another nice transistion heli would be a Trex, but you'll need more advanced skills to fly it. Its far more sensitive on cyclic.
I went from the XRB to the Blade, and Im getting a Trex soon. I think the Blade was a perfect "intermediate" heli for me. Going from the XRB to the blade I had very little trouble moving up. Much less trouble than if I had started on the Blade.