... some people say that Bill Gates himself wrote them

;D

I wouldn't be surprised. :-/
Though I can understand the willingness to learn, you better search elsewhere. The flying lessons shipped with the simulator are there only to exasperate a beginner virtual pilot up to the point he or she will uninstall FS9 ASAP, disgusted.
Why, you ask? But of course to buy FSX.
Oh, BTW, was in your shoes, I wouldn't hope too much about the flying lessons in FSX either. Unless of course you'll want to find yourself in the position of wanting uninstall FSX too in wait for FSXI (or whatever it will be called) and its lessons.

Of course, was in your shoes, I wouldn't...

There's but one real cure for human stupidity. It's called DEATH.
At the moment mourning the assassination of sarcasm and irony for the good of the "higher".
Proud FSIX user. Active user of FS98, X-plane and novic