This is beautifully written, but I'm unconvinced. Gamers of a certain age - not just computer gamers, I see this in roleplaying as well - seem wedded to the illusion of freedom or realism or risk, will sacrifice story or balance for their sake.

It never works. A game is ultimately never going to be able to outsmart its player; a determined player can always peek behind the curtain. Suspension of disbelief has to be willing - so why not embrace that?

And if the author wants to complain about games feeling like work, precise controller-use, meaningless deaths, or blind alleys are surely much bigger examples of that. The idea that you "actually become better" by getting better at videogame swordfights is laughable. That the original Legend of Zelda was harder doesn't make it any more heroic. Only less fun.