Accepting poor game systems

The recent threads speaking to failure after failure with D&D left me
somewhat confused. It became clear that one was dealing with a system
that was basically broken in relation to the needs of the user- the
answer seems simple. Get a different game.

Then I come across this article in MMORPGs-
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070326/sorens_01.shtml

There's lots in it that I don't agree with (or think unpractical with
today's tech). But I found something that I did agree with, and which
harkened back to the D&D threads here.

The core concept of the article is that primary reason people play
MMORPGs is the desire for a persistent existence for a character. That
is- a character that changes and grows during play. And one that the
player can return to at the point of last play.

>From there it goes on to say that this desire is so strong, that it
overrides the fact that objectively the game play sucks by nearly any
measure one cares to use.

Sounded familar to me.

MMORPGs of course have a major advantage over PnP games in that the
mechanics are hidden (often on purpose) from the player. This makes it
easier to ignore the systems failings.

But I think in large measure the same mindset applies: One is so
interested in a persistent existence that rule problems are completely
ignored by the common gamer. They either accept the poor elements of
the mechanics, or just don't use them. It seems to me that they often
make that decision (accept or discard) at an unconscious level.

Towards that end, heavy examination of the mechanics is counter-
productive to fun play. In MMORPGs, one often sees that the most
unhappy players are those who best understand the system. And from the
PoV I'm expressing here, that makes perfect sense.

If true, this concept points to one of two possible solutions to
troublesome game systems:

1. Find the perfect game for one's needs.

or

2. Shutup and roll the dice. You're thinking about it too much.


I'm a fan of option #1, but it's appears to me that most people are
firmly in the second camp.