No. Absolutely not. Virtual Airlines place too many restrictions on what you fly, where you can fly, how you fly, and how often you must fly. For me, flight simulation is a hobby, and virtual airlines turn it into work.
flightsim
I dunno where you had this idea that's 100% untrue lol
There are hardcore VAs as much as there are casual VAs where you can fly how you like, just using their ACARS to log the flight.
No more paper work like we used to have in the 2000s. Even with hardcore VAs, given all the automation there is now with the ACARS, it's just "click, send PIREP, voila".
For example prepping the flight on Simbrief takes more time than using an ACARS.
I fly with Widerøe (as a passenger) a couple of times every month. Usually ~55minute flights. ENBL is my local airport.
My favorite route, though, is where I grew up: ENBN -> ENMS. I flew that whenever I was visiting my grandmother. I don't remember how long that flight took, but it couldn't have been much more than 20 minutes. Plus the beetween-mountain-approach to ENMS is spectacular.
I think I boot up the simulator too sporadically to join a VA, I've read multiple VA's that require you to fly at least once a month. Plus it feels a bit limiting in a way? Not being in a VA allows you to fly where ATC is on Vatsim and wherever in the world you want.
Kinda, I'm a part of nomadic virtual but only fly flights for them occasionally. It's a aircraft ferry va so the routes and aircraft are unique and you get flights personally dispatched for you to make it realistic. You even get a reason (eg. Repositioning flight for a freighter conversion, etc.) and MEL items in the dispatch.
A decade or so ago I flew virtual united and it was fun but found after a year or so I wanted to explore more parts of the world and more airlines so I left to have more freedom.
Yes but in my own (an Air France look alike with real routes and fleet) on fscharter.
I like having an objective for flying and that little economic simulation added on top of flying.