have to say that was well put Biged,
the sim has been a huge help in my personal progression from trainer to advanced planes when I went to the field after the winter break with a new plane, after I had just gotten my sim a couple of months earlier, the diference was huge, smoother landings, better take offs, just better flying in general.
a couple of weeks ago before a maiden of my new H-9 Mustang 60 size, I worked out the kinks on my sim for a weak, just a bit of practice time every night, had a perfect maiden greased my landings and things couldn't have gone better, thanks to a few sim sessions.
I felt much more relaxed at the controls and even had a roll recovery that if not for the sim time I might have panicked, came in for a low pass went for the victory roll and got a little loose finished the roll about 15 to 20ft off the ground not a weed cutter by any means but close enough for flight #2 but I didn't feel out of control and left the field happy and with plane fully intact.
so necessary-no,helpfull-definatly yes