Excuse my ignorance here, but why not just set an altitude as zero (say 5000ft) put the aircraft in the required config and then go from there. I know that the point is to test the ability of the pilot at the critical phase of flight, but there is a reason so many problems occur close to the ground. There is NO room for error.
Surely that and solid work overs in the sim could cover the requirements?? Why risk another life?