I suspects not many readers of this thread are interested in RC model aircraft but Ill ignore that !
Simulators are great for practising model flying fixed or rotary wing . As models are flown almost entirely on one sense ie vision they are pretty realistic . There is an exellent free one called FMS . So providing the characteristics of your simulator model are a reasonable match to your physical model you can practice tricky manouvers without expensive repair bills .
Im currently trying to perfect whats called nose in hovering with a Heli . I guess its a bit like trying to fly a full sized heli sitting backwards looking at the tail .