Aaah ... but you can't dogfight (shoot things down), can't blow stuff up, don't need to avoid SAM missiles, dodge flak, try to break radar lock ... then get home (on fumes) with a crippled aircraft! ...

The problem is that I came to MSFS a long time after having "cut my teeth" on just about every combat sim that's been released. In many instances (notably Su-27 Flanker) flying head to head with real military pilots - who claimed the sim was realistic enough to practise real combat manoeuvres. Needless to say, they were unbeatable

My last few online outings were with the Kiwisim boys - with IL-2 - and it was incredibly immersive: hard but full of adrenalin fun. I just don't find stooging around "looking pretty" in a mean military machine that rewarding ... unless it's a Spit, that is
However - navigation, ATC procedures all that civil aviation stuff is done so well in MSFS. I get a real kick out of planning a flight - calculating the load-out, flying within safe limits and arriving on time (in all weather!). At least I *usually* get to land the aircraft!
Oddly, the price of a decent combat sim these days is a fraction of what you pay for MSFS + add-ons - and you get a proper handful of accurately modelled aircraft, better flight models, better avionics, better weaponry, online combat, campaigns etc. etc.
I hedge my bets and play *both*!
Mate, agree with all you say. But the VRS SuperBug does give you some of the combat elements....sure it doesn't do damage modelling, etc, etc, etc, but chack this out:
And a gratuitous go-fast shot for good measure (hey, its a Super Hornet, so why not?