I was drawn to this investment mainly to test out the new padsplit model.

One is to build your own team of quality venders that will help you, most important may be the boots on the ground,  The other is to find a Turnkey provider that can be trusted.  

They often have a list of preferred housing providers they work with.

If there is an opportunity out there that you believe will provide you with better returns than what the stock market then yes buy real estate.

You will be able to learn the ins and outs and really understand how to provide the best guest experience.

Be sure to check out the free tools BP provides to help analyze deals you may have and also market insights.

So I'm curious whether anyone plays it, or whether the consensus is the Real World provides Challenges enough?

Absolutely, creating a baseline business plan is a crucial step when starting in real estate (or any field) because it provides clarity, direction, and a strategic foundation for your efforts. 

Only an investment team can provide the crucial local knowledge you need.Moreover, you'll need various resources to find, validate, inspect, renovate, and manage a property.

.- is your mentor unable to provide referrals, insight, assistance?