While there obviously is a difference, for me, I like using a sim to keep my mind going. I eventually got X-Plane many years ago and loved using it for proficiency on procedures. A sim can be fantastic for helping you build and memorize flows. For procedural work like flying an approach or departure, it is exactly the same in the real world. This is why a good sim can be certified by the FAA for currency work.
What most sims have failed at doing well if at all is pilotage, which MSFS has now brought to the table very well. Sure, the older sims tried with Google earth overlays, but they were not all that but better than nothing. What we have now is pretty awesome.
Also, for me to get checkied out in a new aircraft, it’s great to have a very good sim aircraft, study level or not, to be able to learn from at very little cost. We used to and still do use posters for this as well. This would save me hours of time in the real aircraft, which translates to thousands of dollars saved.
But in the end, nothing beats flying in the real thing. If you can’t, this is the next best thing. And yes, as someone mentioned in an earlier post, go on a discovery flight. They are typically under $250usd and you get some ground time and about 30-60min of airtime.