Got it just the other day and can't recommend it enough. Beginner to expert you'll find uses for it. Practicing basics without risk or delays for the usual mechanical tinkering, trying new maneuvers and getting a feel for them before trying it for real... Hell, if nothing else it lets you practice a lot more than you can with the models just by virtue of not requiring charging, decent weather, time for a trip to the field... Got half an hour before you need to leave, practice a few touch and goes or practice your hovering.

I'm a big fan of FMS but it's not in the same league for the details yet. The basic flight physics are good but G3 (and probably the other big name sims) have the details down better. Things like how heli's behave on lift off or as you increase/decrease throttle, torque effects on tracking down the runway with planks... That kind of stuff. It seems minor, but when you experience it for the first time in the real model it's very disconcerting if you aren't ready for it. Practicing the counter movements on the controller in the sim keeps these normal issues from becoming cause for alarm or stress.

Back to on topic, no you can't use a joystick with the demo, and make sure you check the video compatibility list for your card, the demo runs on lots of stuff the real one won't. Luckily for me a driver update got me running smoothly even though mine's in the "no" column. (windows xp pro x64 with an Asus X1600 pro silent using the latest ATI 64bit drivers, drivers from even a month ago didn't work. I've sent them a note so hopefully they'll do some testing and update their list for the ATI X series cards.)

Remy