Josh:
I've been following your post - I'm gonna work hard on getting NOTEBOOK to use my feedback controller. I know now with some work, I figured out what was holding out the desktop and I can now configure MOST of it in the Demo.
So, for now, I'll get them installed and working, then buy it where it is cheapest at NEAR me for pickup in store - I have all these stores within 10 miles of me. I'm sure I'll pay about $50 for the Delux is I shop, Target, Staples, Circuity City, Babbages and Best Buys, and many other retail stores (like Sears) who still carry software sections.
By time you have a controller running (no.! priority really) then you learn to fly, until then you just stumble around with little control - I'd worry about ATC AFTER I reviewed any tutorals which come with your sim - look closely for training videos and stuff, ATC language especially is PRECISE and to the point - there is an order to it which helps you decipher the babble. You will be urged by both GROUND CONTROLLERS and FLIGHT CONTROLLERS giving you options to move around a taxi way and await take off and once in the air, the know whay heading and what altitude YOU will be flying.
REMEMBER JOSH: Always check a WEATHER REPORT FIRST in any flight where you are being judged in the Sim - weather is a pilots FIRST CONCERN, then if weather approved, vehicle (plane) inspection is no.2.
The game has a technical and easy mode - USE EASY for a while and ATC will help you around the fields.
Talk later :)