Air NZ preferred the 744 because it was likely to be the one sim of theirs that the fewest applicants had any time on. The sim detail they put people through tests basic IFR and S.A. so reading up on gear and flap speeds etc would be of no use as they do all this for you. You got to chose which side you sat on so you would be comfortable, I have heard other airlines put everyone in the RHS as that would be where they would be starting. Holding pattern entries were the only thing I really brushed up on.