So, taking that argument to a ridiculous conclusion we could have an applicant with 1500 hours of 'zero flight time' in simulators claiming the requisite experience for an ATPL, or 5000 such hours putting his hand up for a DEC.
I always took a very jaundiced view of applicants who disguised their real experience by claiming total hours in type, or simulator hours, dressed up to look like command when all they had was either a bare endorsement or some First Officer experience. In fact when my bull**** meter detected this nonsense, the application would go straight to the round file.
As real as simulators are, it is usual for certain liberties to be taken during their use. Unless it is an advanced LOFT scenario, often there will be no traffic, little ATC communication, no real passengers or company issues and frequent use of position freezes, resets etc to optimise training time. Sim time is not flight time.