Is the simulator valid for this exercise though? I suspect not since I very much doubt that trials were done to produce a data set.

This makes interesting reading.

You are right.... No simulator can replicate the actual touchdown on the ocean largely because of the variable nature of the "runway" but you can develop a good approach technique using a simulator.

Ditching statistics
 

Mark 1, thanks for this interesting link!
This article answers most of the open questions and hangartalk about ditching various airplanes.