Totally agree with you on that! I also used a few demo accounts that made me feel like a trading genius — until I went live and reality hit. The emotional aspect is missing from most simulators, and that’s what makes live trading so different. I’ve started journaling my demo trades and treating them with real accountability, and it helped a lot with discipline. The idea of using demos that simulate slippage and variable spreads makes a lot of sense — it’s closer to what we actually deal with in the markets.

I completely agree with your frustration — many demo simulators feel too “soft” and don’t replicate real market conditions accurately. I once used a platform where slippage and spread were almost non-existent, and I got burned badly when switching to live markets. What helped me was checking out https://forextester.com/blog/best-demo-trading-simulators/ on Forex Tester — it catalogs simulators that closely mimic real behavior, with variable spreads, execution delays, and realistic order fills. After trying a couple from their list, I found one that taught me risk management rather than false confidence. Now I treat demos as serious training sessions, not just toy environments. If possible, pick a simulator from that list, test small-time strategies, and see if your performance holds when you go live.