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Joe,
I'll be interested to see the responses you get. Where are you located? Often times, you can find a flight school that offers free ground school. They'll expect you to purchase the necessary books and things, but the ground school will be free of charge. I also know some people who have tackled ground school on their own, as you're suggesting. It can be done. There are many companies that offer this do-it-yourself type course. I believe Cessna and Sporty's have courses like this. I know there are others.
As far as the MS Sim goes, unfortunately, it doesn't count toward anything. It cannot be logged as flight time, sim time, or any sort of training. However, it can be benificial for things like instrument scan and having a basic understanding on what effects certain instruments and how they relate to each other. And it's fun.
Good luck on your search. I hope you post again and keep us updated on your journey to becoming a private pilot.
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