It definitely is true.
One of the first games I was mad about was the age-old Railroad Tycoon. Ok, it had flawed economic models, but it still is a decent exercise in decision making, and all that. Which became more complex with the newer games, so I hardly would call those games a waste of time.
Even Final Fantasy VII, which is a simple game, can be made quite complex, depending on the targets you set. The tougher challenges demand of you that you completely understand game-mechanics, and everything that might be at your disposal. In fact, I had to do some calculations 2 weeks ago, and had to do some matrix algebra. Not certain that kids in high school even have to know stuff like that, and after high school, unless you are studying math, you don't use it anymore. Depending on the challenge you spend more time creating a strategy than actually playing the game.
Then there is a bunch of historical games, in which you learn quite a bit about ancient times. Often they come with their own economic models, which you have to understand too.
And multiplayer games, such as NWN, or anything involving decent strategy, requires you to understand what the situation is, what your skills are, and with whom you are playing. Taking out a wizard with a barbarian and a cleric is quite a bit different from taking said wizard out with a rogue and a sorcerer. And even the generalities are not sufficient to decide on a strategy.
All skills mentioned are definitely improved by playing the right games. No contest.
It is not the gaming that is good or bad in itself. But more the games and how the player reacts to them...
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