I agree.
There is an advantage to using these devices to learn to physically control helicopters; but although mastering the hover in a FTD or similar will reduce the time spent in the aircraft, the time spent sitting in the real aircraft going through the start up and pre-flight procedures will never be wasted.
As an examiner, I have never failed anyone through their inability to hover, but I do often find that their knowledge of systems and/or procedures is lacking.