After 30-50 minutes of rage and starting the project over, I learned the hard way that just because Interface Builder is part of the Xcode suite, it has no clue when Xcode is building. Thus does not save the .xib file, and thus why I had no UI widgets turning up in the simulator.
I watched a demo video so many times over and over, checking every step is done, and it’s the one he does with the keyboard short-cut, and doesn’t mention, saving. ARGGGG!