Even though the flight models in the free sims aren't totally realistic they are good enough to start your muscle memory training. This is the part most people have trouble with I think, the training of muscle groups and visual accuteness, and co-ordinating the two. Think about it for a minute, you are learning the same stuff a real pilot has to learn without the benefits that come from a school. This is no mean feat folks! You are all to be applauded for even trying it. I've tried the demo for ClearView and it was cool but it didn't last long enough to really get a feel for it. So far the free-bees have been working for me as I find myself reacting in an automatic fashion sometimes now in situations that a few weeks ago would have had me panicing. Time on any sim I think is good and it beats the crap out of the garbage on TV!!!!