On the subject of simulating experiences - I also firmly believe that LDing can help with personal growth.

Using the example of meeting someone new and holding a conversation (hard for many people), What LDing has to offer is just an opportunity to let go. It's not important how realistic the situation is, it doesnt even matter what the other person says back to you. You could greet someone and start talking about your day and they could reply with "fried tomatoes" or some other garbage, yet your experience has still been beneficial because you had the opportunity to practise talking, you showed YOURSELF that you have something to say. A lot of the time, things like this happen because people are afraid to try. In lucid dreaming, that fear is deminished and can provide the confidence that you arent going to screw up in real life.

Also the athletes / musicians / artists visualisation practise has been scientifically proven to work - as Oneironaut already mentioned.

All the evidence is with LDing, not agaisnt.