I don't think there is a magic time when you are ready to go from the sim to real flying.
How often do you use the reset button? Are you actually in control of the plane or do you
end up saving it more than telling it what to do? are the controls becoming instinct or do you
have to think then react? (please give honest answers it will help).

One of the problems with the sim is that it is very comfortable to have a reset button. If you
choose to continue on the path you are on (no instructor or outside help) you need to be on the
sim until flying the plane away from you, toward you, and any where in between is second nature.
Then you can start another pahse of sim training, have someone screw up the trims and you don't look
at the transmitter just take off and practice trimming without taking your eyes off the plane. also when
my buddy was doing sim training I would screw up the trims and he would practice safely landing as close
to the runway as possible without making any trim adjustments.

Next start killing the engine during the flight, I found that asking my wife to periodically walk in and hit the K button
helped me, (plus she liked doing it) as I would have to deadstick land from wherever I was. I only had 2 formal
training sessions with my instructor before soloing and alot of that is due to the Sim. I only used the PT40
trainer on my sim for 3 weeks 2 hours a night. I flew until I was comfortable taking off, Landing on the center
of the runway everytime, regular and inverted circuits, and deadstick landings.

I am not an expert pilot by any means, not even a novice, I learn fast and practice alot, Sim and Real. I can't give all the
credit to the Sim I had a good instructor (CGretired) and a few weeks after he finished with me one of
the competitive pattern flyers at my club started training me in the art of aerobatics. I wanted to learn by myself
and I am fairly certain that after alot of busted stuff and dissapointment (and money) I would have succeded.
but instead I went withn training and started flying pattern in my first month I finished fifth in the NSRCA district 1
points series in my first year of flying. If I would have learned by myself I would have been lucky to get a plane
to properly takeoff and land in my first few months.

Good luck with your decision whether it be to go it alone or try a few flights with an instructor. I realize
that it sounds like a broken record here when it comes to getting and instructor, but these guys would
like to see you succeed in this hobby, not get discouraged.