I got my PPL a few years ago. VATSIM and flight sim were huge tools.

I would, literally, fly my training flights a few times using full VATSIM and then show up IRL to do the same thing. It made a massive difference.

My instructor even said it makes his job so much easier. He had to do nothing with me.

I was able to cut my rental time over half. It paid for itself a dozen times over. Like literally it saved me $5k or so.

I recently gifted my yoke and controls to my GF who is getting her commerical cert. She is so excited. She is already flying her training flights using it. It's so helpful.