it's actually not all that hard mate and he's not really referring to nautis either I reckon..
the word simulator does not mean the same thing in a game/entertainment related fashion than it does in a commercial simulator for professional training kind of way. it's the difference between entertainment and education. You also can't become an airline pilot by just playing FSX.
There is not a single 'grade' for how much accuracy or reaslism or such is involved, when this word is used.
Some valid points on Crashstop's part though, and of course also a welcome to the forum to you!
But, do keep in mind, that at a certain price, not everything that a real educational simulator that costs many thousands to tens or hundreds of thousands delivers, will be present in a simulator that is meant for the entertainment industry and costs a few tenners. If that was possible, those others wouldn't costs so much money.
I have a shelf full of games that bear this titel 'simulator', and only a few come close to being true simulators, and yet none of them really are, compared to what the 'real world' uses to train professionals. They are still games at the end of the day.
The word has no one value or meaning, it's a broad spectrum. If it simulates or recreates something that takes place in the real world, then it's a simulator. Easy as that. But to what extend and how realistic, that depends on the content and as well, on the pricetag.
Having said that, there are some nice sim features that I do miss in SSE, which hopefully will be included, to get it up to par with what some other 'entertainment simulators' offer. I grant you that.
Regards,
Fred