I logged over 2000 hours on the original flight simulator. I kept my flight hours in a log book. I used actual physical maps. I visited every airport within 500 miles of Meigs Field. I flew in all kinds of weather. I bought every extra option. I visited local pro shops and bought a dozen flying books.
I highly recommend "Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche". Best book ever.
I took private pilot flying lessons and knew exactly how to fly.
I pre-paid for the new MS Flight Simulator. I bought pedals and a yoke. I bought a new, high-end laptop that exceeded the specs. Once the flight simulator arrived I flew it every day for 2 weeks.
Half of every day was spent downloading updates. I spent 5 hours talking to a pleasant fellow in India trying to correct errors. I spent hours talking to other MS support people. In fact, for those 2 weeks I spent more hours on the phone with MS support than I did flying the plane.
When it worked it was truly an amazing program. Mostly it didn't work. Constant updates broke everything.
I sent back the pedals and yoke hardware.
I cancelled the flight simulator. MS kept my money.
Your (flying) miles might vary but I would not suggest buying this program.