hi R.B.J.

Your reasoning is logical but wrong. A good sim is far better than a model for learning new tricks.
Afterall, if you cock up, you wait three seconds and they give you a new model.

Besides, with a cheap (ie small) foamie, you will spend most of your time waiting for the wind to drop!!
After even minor crashes your repairs will make the model heavier and heavier not to mention warped.

Do yourself a good turn and get a quality sim.