IFR and VFR are sets of rules; for the PPL you will only ever fly in accordance with the VFR.
To clarify this a bit further:
VMC (visual meteological conditions) and IMC (instrument meteological conditions) are conditions of the atmosphere. The difference between them is dependent on a number of factors, but in general VMC means that you can look out the window to keep the plane upright and to navigate, while IMC means that you have to use the aircraft instruments.
When flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), amongst other things, you have to remain in VMC conditions. Only when flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are you allowed to enter IMC conditions. (But most of the time an IFR flight will be in VMC conditions anyway; IFR has other advantages than just being able to enter IMC and for this reason people/airlines will fly IFR even in excellent VMC.)
To be allowed to operate under IFR rules you will need an Instrument Rating (IR), which is an add-on to your license. So the training for your initial license (PPL) will all be done in VMC, under VFR rules. But if you do get that IR add-on later on, you will be able to fly in IMC, under IFR rules, on just a PPL+IR.
A Flighti Smulator really is of little use in the early stages of learning to fly and may even be detrimental.
Agree. One of the problems with trying to learn to fly using MSFS is that the instrument panel takes up about 2/3 of your screen real estate, while the "real" world out there is hardly visible. This makes you focus on the instruments too much, instead of looking outside for visual clues/references. That not only teaches you how to keep the plane in its proper attitude in the wrong manner, but also neglects to teach you how to do visual navigation properly.
Furthermore, the flight model of MSFS isn't all that good, particularly when doing slow flight/stalls/spins and such.
So don't rely on MSFS (or X-Plane for that matter) too much. It's a game, most of all. If you want to use it, here are the things I think you can use it for:
- Procedures trainer: Working with checklists and such
- Anything related to radio navigation (ADF, VOR, DME, ILS) including tuning and identifying frequencies. (And if you use the "slew" mode instead of just flying around, you can position the aircraft easily in any location/altitude/attitude and see the effect on that on your instruments.)
But don't use it for:
- Basic flying skills such as flying straight and level, climbing, descending, turns and such, unless you have a very good setup with force feedback yoke and pedals, and a very good monitor setup (3 screens maybe).
- Circuit training (except for the procedures as mentioned earlier: There is certain rhythm to flying circuits in adjusting throttle, carb heat, flaps, trim and so forth, and this is something you can practice)
- Visual navigation, unless you have a very good add-on scenery of the area you fly in.