I have played with cheap toy store helicopters but not the fancy ones. It’s funny because the guy in the toy store asked me if I had flown a model before and then said “oh, you will definitely crash it then” but we pretty easy.

I think the real deal might differ because I assume the forces are much for dynamic on the bigger thing.

For example ground effect is very noticeable below 20ft to the extent you need significantly less collective to hover. As you change the collective there are bigger swings in sideways thrust from the tail rotor. Additionally the tail with weather vane with the wind which when you adjust with yaw requires a corresponding change in collective and cyclic to balance it all out. There’s also some inertia where you are making an adjustment that takes a few seconds to become apparent with beginners creating oscillations because they are not ahead of the aircraft. A bit like if you imagine steering a huge ship, initially nothing happens despite you having turned as hard as you can then after a minute it’s now turning too far and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.

I assume some of those exist on a model but assume allot don’t scale down.

Not being able to get your medical is a blessing, it would have saved me a fortune.

Even if you can’t get a licence, might be worth just doing a single 60 min lesson to get a feel. If you have a physical limitations the instruct could handle some of the controls.