Does Pseudo-Practice Make Perfect?

[emp1346]

So I had a thread asking about if free poker leagues are becoming popular nationwide, and it got me to thinking...

These are plain and simple MT NLHE tourneys with a point reward system, and the greater percentage of players take it relatively seriously as there's prizes to be won at certain points, trophies, etc...

I play in these mostly because the regular group of guys I play with, well, we know each other and each other's style of play, so after awhile it gets redundant...

My question is whether or not y'all think these free poker leagues and the experience to be gained from playing tables and tables of strangers is decent experience and practice for when I make my way back to some real tables in a state that isn't *ss-backwards?