Also the statement - "crashing has the same effect as crashing in real life. When you're competitive enough, you do not give a **** about injury" is one that I cannot agree with for a few reasons:
1. Most of us do-not do competitive racing, and for those reasons, we are not competitive enough and thus do care about injuring ourselves. This may be more relevant for those extensively into track days and racing, but even their body feels intense pain that is produced when skin drags on asphalt.
2. Crashing in real life does not have the same effect as crashing on a simulator. Or should I say crashing from a motorcycle does not have the same effect. I can say that because I have had many such incidents - I will give you a real life example. I was riding on a mountainous road in the upper Himalayas about 10000 above sea level. It was a bright and sunny day and the sky was clear. I leaned into a corner that took me on the darker side of the mountain. Lo and Behold, there was a ton of black ice on the other side. I straightened up immediately and tried to control, but it was too late. My CB150 and I lay flat on the ice skidding towards the cliff which had a substantial drop. The surge of emotions, the horror & terror, the panic and the immense fear that swept through my body in those two seconds is unexplainable. We hit a tree, and were saved from being flung over.
And I donot believe I can experience that on a VR Simulation. If you can prove to me that I am wrong, and a VR can allow me to experience the same agony, I stand corrected.