What to buy?

[ReadyToFly]

actually i think that flying on a sim is easier than in the real life.
in the real life the heli may have wags, trim issues, wind and so on.
all those things make the flight more difficult to control.
you can also copy those problems on a sim, but generally the beginner does't do it.
so, i think the sim is essential, but when trying the real thing don't think it's going to be a piece of cake, because it won't.

[Kozmyk]

The sim takes away the fear of crashing and with it the inhibition to fly confidently.
It's a most useful way of learning and practising.

On the other hand with actual flying your contact with the craft is more immediate, your depth perception comes into play and that makes it easier to see what your heli is doing.

All stick time is good.