Well, when you are killing time, it's more interesting to have buttons to press. To plan out which buttons you have, and to spend some time to try new things then it is to sit on the couch and watch American Idol. TO me at least.

I think for me at least, with a few exceptions, the story has little baring on my interest in a game in the first place. FPSs are more about just reaction time, thinking on your feet. Where MMOs are more about long and short term strategy (character build and combat).. just enough to keep the mind working here and there during the button pushing.

I don't think that comparing it to a table top RPG is completely fair, I don't think anyone is pretending that your character is going to change the world any more then reading a book or watching a movie. I don't think anyone really thinks of them as a Role Playing Game, or expects them to be, it just got (badly) named that way.

I guess, yeah, if you aren't looking to kill time, games aren't for you at all really, and thats fine. Thats what they are for. Just also understand that having friends to waste time with makes it much more enjoyable, so, you are going to get asked to join now and again. };->