KC-135s had 3 and a check when I went through (and a multitude of sims of course). Does side by side matter? I'd argue that it does. You can't see shit out the other side of a 135. I thought the T-1 was excellent in preparing me for the 135. I can't speak for other airframes. The bigger issue is probably cultural. The last thing any squadron needs is someone who is butthurt about being there. I'm stuck in MQ-9s, so I know of what I speak. T-1s gets you excited about flying heavies, if you weren't already. My T-1 class started with several who didn't want to be there and finished with all but 1 person happy on assignment night. That's not atypical and it certainly isn't nothing.
TL;DR: Bubble Canopy mentality gets you beat in heavies, everyone hates RPAs, T-1s go.