I think most will agree, the instructor is the way to go. I think I would have gone through about 2 or 3 planes just learning to take off.
No telling what it would have took for me to learn to land on my own.
I may have never learned because I would have run out of money and had to quit.

Flying looks easy when you are watching, and to be honest its not hard once you learn.
The simulator is good experience but I never looked at it as a way to learn how to fly. I think it can enhance your skills once you get out to the field and learn. I would also agree that it can help speed up the process but no way can it be the only thing teaching a person to fly in my opinion.
Instructor!

Dbow