Yes, a simulation is not 100% accurate in physics.
There is 0 way the sim programmers are ever going to accommodate all performance functions of the quad copter.
Let alone put in an accurate simulated version of EVERY motor, frame, propeller ETC.
Simulator is good to have when you start to get a feel for the controls, also good to have when you want to practice a new trick a few times before really trying it.
But a sim never gets it all right and some of the most important things such as battery life, control / video range are not simulated, nor is wind, prop-wash, or temperature / humidity changes.
The simulators also teaches you very little to nothing about how to build and setup the quad, which is half of the hobby.
The sim also does a pretty poor job of capturing the sense of speed, it just feels so much faster in real life.
A free simulator you can check out is called FPV free-rider or their sequel recharged which both have free demos.
A very successful guy called steele would recommend you start on a sim with just a transmitter.
You can get a indoor setup ready to fly great for beginner setup for like $65-70 which is basically the cost of one video game.
Or you can get all you need to start up on 5 inch outdoor racer for around $300 which is about the cost of a console. I started on that 300$ setup and it's a good deal tho there are some newer things by now as the hobby moves so fast to develop new gear.
If you want to go balls deep in the hobby and get all top of the line fancy stuff you are looking at $900-3,000 which is around the cost of a gaming PC setup.
On a related note I greatly regret building my last gaming PC as I haven't touched it in months, I'm still on the fence to sell it and rely on my old rig which is now the drone shop computer.
Hope this helps.