I'm not denying that some interest might be derived from "toy" simulators but how can a $50 PC game approach a real sim costing a million dollars when even the real one doesn't work?! (I don't mean the term "toy" to be derogatory, just to distinguish from the type pf sims we all see at work).
Just think what happens when you're controlling.. The first thing is you don't send instructions by using a keyboard or a mouse. I've met plenty of trainees who could sit behind a briefing table and tell me exactly what was to be done... yet put a headset on them and they fell apart. The graphics provided by some of the PC sims are exceptionally good - difficult to tell from the real thing - but that's not the whole job. Think of the atmosphere in the control room, the other people around you - some rushing up to you with important information and all and all.... phones ringing and a million other things which make up the "real" job and which a PC sim on your dining room table simply cannot do.
Fact is, a guy could be a real genius using one of the sims, but a total failure on the real thing.. and that's what I wanted to bring home to Kenny.