What a fascinating thread!
My 20p worth.
Although a home sim can teach you a lot about systems and check lists, it's very limited and practically pointless in handling. Almost all yokes, throttles and pedal setups are gaming devices, simply spring loaded and totally unlike a real aircraft (airbus excepted of course).
My own home sim has a VR headset, proper control loaded yoke and pedals and push/pull Cessna throttles. It trims like a realistic yoke, and can be setup for different aircraft. It takes the best part of 10 years of spare income to buy it though!
Good luck in your quest, just please please please don't try to impress your instructor.