I have the same reaction to VR, what is the optimistic non-dystopian view? I am generally curious because near complete human absorption in technology is what I see and it's hard for me to picture that in a positive light.

For me, VR has been a means to stay in touch with distant friends and family. It's not too different from traditional computer games + voice chat, but the extra level of immersion does increase the sense of connection. The lack of distraction in VR from e.g. smartphones, tabbed windows, or nearby things in the physical world all helps foster an increased level of engagement with other people/players in VR.

VR has given me a new sense of imagination and creativity, similar to what some might experience with 3D printing.

Being able to perceive a digital space in three dimensions is a significantly different human-computer interface than a 2D screen. It feels like so much more is possible once you break into the extra dimension.

From the outside, VR definitely has a dystopian look to it. But from the inside, it can give a sense of "creativity unlocked" once you start thinking about how to build immersive experiences. This liberating mindset, in some ways, is the opposite of what it appears to be on the outside.

I guess for me the dystopian slant gets a bit steeper in the context of global warming and consumerism and the sort of head in the sand mentality that VR seems to project.

I suppose an advanced version of VR could replace some amount of travel, which is a significant source of atmospheric pollution.

It's hard to ignore the level of abuse it enables.