Surely when used seriously a Sim can become a very valuable tool and more than just a game?
Yes, I agree. I learned what all the instuments are for and how they work. Although you cannot learn to fly using a sim, you can find out basic stuff.
Lets just say when I went for a trial lesson I knew what everything in the cockpit was for - and how to tune a VOR and so on.
There is a use of simulators for this - it can be used to show what effects the controls has on a plane before taking a nervous first flyer up and to show what effects the movement has on the instruments.
And yes, a forum for flight sims !!!