What if closed systems are just that much different than open systems that it's not generalizable?

Closed systems don't have Black Swan possibilities. Black swans are sometimes super-linear, jolting results in directions and scale unimagined.

To answer briefly (and respectfully): because an MMORPG is a different type of system than reality. Comparing cars to buses.

I've been stuck in a minigame for the past couple of decades.

And all too often most of the players will try to bend/break the rules in their favor.

Because that is indeed a very effective approach. In a game where rules can be broken or warped to suit your goals, doing so is a smart move. Just like in life, where rules don't actually exist.