In my experience (yes I've tried) a good PC flight sim can be a very useful, very inexpensive adjunct to real flight training in a sim or airplane. Need to have a foundation in the plane FIRST so that you understand what's unrealistic in the PC game but given that you can quickly practice IFR procedures with a high degree of repetition.

You can really fine tune the "mental gymnastics" of IFR ops in a distraction-free environment. That does not replace real flight training in a plane, but it can make flight training go more smoothly and quickly. You can of course accomplish the same thing in the traditional manner, but it will take longer and cost more.