Thought about getting a small Cisco router to play with and perhaps write off as education expense? For myself, by the time one pays for the (good) sim software, a few books, etc., you might find that a Cisco 827 is a more fun and more realistic trainer.
Frankly, sims are, ultimately, sims. What they don't throw at you are the oh-so-important little housekeeping details of router life. Learning the Cisco Way seems to be as much housekeeping mastery as protocol nuance mastery.
Best
Mike