The general consensus amongst experienced cash players is that play money is a waste of time, and can actually do more harm than good.
I am not agreeing. If you can afford to play real money, and have an environment such that you can concentrate, then you will more likely learn the game faster via real money.
If, on the other hand, you are like so many players who are mainly playing for the entertainment, and fun, maybe some sporting competition, then play chips can solve several problems. Like you are broke, or playing totally bored.
Higher buy-in play money games can offer more 'real' poker simulations. But play money will never let you figure out how to deal with the scared money aspect of poker. That scared money aspect is bigger than you can imagine.
So, IMHO, if you are never expecting to be a poker pro, then play money will be fine. Set yourself a goal of 1 million play chips, then try and sell em.
As for the complicated 'moves' that are made in real money games, these can be learned at the highest play money levels. However, they will be missing that scared money thing, so while the HH might read the same in either a PM or RM game, what goes into your thought processes will be way different.