The first time an airline pilot flies a new aircraft type in the real world they fly it with a plane full of passengers. All the training up to that point is done in a simulator.

Now that first flight is with an experienced training captain but the point is the simulator is good enough that the FAA has signed off on using that as the primary training device.

It's been this way for at least 25 years.

with respect to assessing tactics, it is very close.

Simulator tech has come a long way. I wouldn't say a simulator invalidates the result.