If you can keep hitting the right orbit and the scoop over and over I'd say you deserve the advance anyway. Most of the other shots on the PF are as difficult or easier (for me at least) with the exception of the GEM shot.

Throwing the ball into or near the pops in SOS makes my heart skip a beat. I'd rather shoot the actual shots 9/10 times. I believe there is also a scoring penalty for shooting scoops to advance?

From patch notes:

Added new awards to Flynn's Arcade. They are: ADVANCE CLU, ADVANCE
ZUSE, ADVANCE DISC, ADVANCE LIGHT CYCLE, ADVANCE SEA OF SIMULATION,
and MORE TIME. Advance Sea of Simulation is only available when Sea
of Simulation is running and will spot the next shot during SoS (at
1/10 the points). This should be helpful if the player enters SoS
and has not completed Gem or Light Cycle.

No doubt haha