Actually, the folks who design, build, validate, and qualify aircraft flight simulators today go to very great lengths to make sure that both the performance and handling qualities of the simulator are very close to those of the aircraft being simulated. There are a series of over a hundred individual, and very objective tests that are run on the simulator comparing all the relevant resulting parameters to those generated by the aircraft during flight testing - flying exactly the same tests. Additionally, pilots qualified on the aircraft fly the simulator subjectively to be sure that there is an "acceptance" of the intangible aspects of flying the simulator as compared to the aircraft.
So the answer to your original question is -- simulators are, indeed, very close to the aircraft. However, before someone runs off with the wrong impression, operating the simulator can be made to be quite different than operating the aircraft in the "real world," and it can be done without monkeying around with any of the programming or testing parameters.
The "real world" very rarely has totally calm winds or totally precise temperature variations (or zero variation). When you couple these factors to freezing the simulator and configuring it for final approach (at the proper aircraft configuration, trim setting, power setting, attitude, altitude, airspeed, etc., aligned with both the vertical and horizontal guidance) and then releasing the simulator to "fly" ... what you get is not really what is representative of the "real world." In situations such as this, the very best thing to do to successfully "fly" the simulator to the runway and land -- is to do as little as possible -- essentially, don't touch anything! Listen to the instructor when he/she tells you to "flare" and retard the throttles - squeak, squeak and you're down.
In my aviation career I can count on one hand the number of times where Mother Nature cooperated to the extent that no matter what I tried to do to "screw up the landing," she wasn't about to let me do that. The approach and landing in each case was text book perfect, or darn near to it -- despite my attempts to make it otherwise! Note - while I'd love to take credit for each - the fact is I would be lying through my teeth to take credit for any one of those approaches and landings. The reason I can remember so easily, is that these were so different from my "normal" flailing around on final that they stand out in my memory. Generally, the winds and temperatures combine to make it necessary to make continuous pitch, bank, power, and trim changes throughout the approach. The larger the winds and temperature differences, particularly if there is a vertical component to the winds and changes in the wind direction and speed at differing altitudes, the larger these changes have to be and the more frequently they are required. Because allowable deviations are decreased the closer to the landing point you get, the flight path adjustments become more critical as you progress on the approach. One of the other factors that enter into the requirements for these changes, are the fact that when the pilot (me, in these cases) makes a change in pitch, bank, power, or trim -- the pilot (me) probably won't make the change just exactly as he/she should have. So, another change is made. And another one, and another, etc. Hopefully, the pilot "zeros in" on where he/she wants to be instead of "diverging" from that point - but that doesn't happen all the time either.
So, the bottom line is this. I am very glad you enjoyed your visit to a "real" simulator. Someone who has the knowledge you obviously have regarding airplanes and flight is likely to "fly" better than one who doesn't have a similar background or interest. I am glad you had the opportunity to fly the simulator and that it went well. I am sure that a good share of the result of your simulator session was entirely due to your ability. The only thing I would point out is that there is likely to be a lot more to flying an approach and landing than what you saw. I hope your interest was peaked; and I hope you continue with your interest in aviation.
Best regards.
