I did about 15 hours in the sim for my IR.
Advantage =
1. Timed turns, mastering the 500 fpm descent.
2. Shooting the ILS from just beyond the outer marker...
3. $55 pr/hr with instructor (before VA reimbursement)...and time still counts toward the 35 hours for 141
4. Holding. Getting thrown into some unrealistic holding situation and making sense of it on the fly. Big advantage in the sim.
Disadvantage (for you) =
1. They must be really proud of that sim to charge you full price. If it is the same price, don't let them milk you for the full 15 hours. If you have actual IMC conditions, demand that they do the lesson in IMC instead of that stupid sim.
I laughed when I saw that you started a sdhcvhoh(sp) type of flight training thread. Don't be posting pics of you taking the 172 up to 17,999
Congrats on getting started man. Keep the stories coming.