Personally I think that that a home simulated cockpit and getting a PPL are completley two different pursuits that are related... but VERY different.

The simulated 7X7 cockpit is not a "substitute" for a real pilot's licence ... and a real pilots licence is not a "substitute" for the the simpit setup.  And neither is better than the other...... because they are not ttrying to be the same thing.

The obvious great situation is to have the PPL and the full scale, full motion replica of the 7X7.  

best,

...................john

PS:  And the PPL is not going to put you in the left seat of mult-ithousand pounds of aluminum on short final into KJFK in a thunderstorm IFR with minimums.    The simpit can do that for you.