At best I think play money might help you beat the hugest of fish but there are not that many of those. The one thing I learned from play chips is to think past level 0. That is to not just play your own hand. You have to consider the other players
hands. I guess I could have learned this by just reading poker training material but play chips worked for me.
Over all I see play chips as way to play some poker just purely for fun. I know some of the grinders on here might think that is a waste of time but I think it is fun every once and a while and it is zero risk (Assuming you don’t buy any play chips. Most hilarious idea ever.) I have gotten some serious laughs out play chip play so there is that as well.
It is up to you to decide if that time could be spent better doing something else.