I do agree with everything you wrote. Majority of younger kids turn to arcade-ish games, like NFS and Forza, whereas people at their late teens (like me) and above prefer the style of GT5. For example Im in the "My Home" page listening to Jazz/Lounge music right now. If I had a Xbox, I would buy Forza. I have PS3, so I got GT5. If I was on PC only, I'd be playing that.... iRacing or what its name is. I have experienced the physics on Shift games, and I agree with one of the posts saying that cars handle wrong. Plus the helmet camera isn't as convenient as you may think. Cars feel heavy and many times you cant control them -> ruins the fun. I create an online lobby for me and my friends to chill on GT5, we wouldnt be able to do it in Forza or Shift, im sure of that. I've seen gameplay vids, Forza gets kinda tiring after a while. Overall, im not saying that GT5 is the best racing sim ever made, simply because:
1) Previous GT games had features I miss
2) We wont see a real sim game only until 2020+++
I play mostly on GT5 because of the variety and because i love the level of design of the Premium cars and also for its physics on every car (standards are amazing to drive too and that´s what it count).
But real simulator until 2020? In the upcoming year (2012) for PC (i play and have tons of games/simulators like rFactor, GTR2, GTREvo/Race 07, Ferrari Virtual Academy , RBR,etc) we´ll see all new versions of those mostly.
Four important simulators coming this year: rFactor 2,GTR3, Assetto Corse and C.A.R.S (but this one is not very good because i have the beta and feels like NFS Shift physics and that is not a good thing but the graphics are amazing i can tell).
It is cool to play only one game but in my case i have my favourites but also i have those that i played a couple of times and add some variety to my main games that in this case are GT5,rFactor,GTR2 and Race 07 in my case.
GT5 has the graphics and is one of the most 'complete' games because of the amount of cars and tracks that comes with it and its very good physics.
rFactor is well known as one of the best simulators in the market (Red Bull F1 Team uses rFactor Pro as their main simulator to test tracks) and there are tons of modders that makes it a huge game despite the graphics.This is the only simulator that gives you a real FFB to your wheel. (in my case G27)Also day and night races.
GTR2 is the official game for FIA GT and you have pretty decent graphics + very good physics + amazing car sounds + tons of circuits + modders can add even more to the game. (i play it with Super GT most of the time because of the Honda HSV 010) Also day and night cycles like GT5 now.
GTR Evo/ Race07 has a very good physics + decent graphics and one of the most realistic car sound in the market (i bought the GT Power expansion pack with Pagani Zonda R, Matech Ford GT, BMW M3 GT2 and the cars sounds exactly the same as the real ones and that is amazing). Also this game has night and day cycles, Rain with the water effects of course as in GT5.
Resume: (lol) from what i have seen GT5 compete with itself but at the same add the same content that the majority of the simulators on PC already has and that is a plus for a game being developed only for console. I play more GT5 that any of those games because it has all the features but with some missing things in my opinion like real sound engines and some cars that i wanted (we all have our special preferences in that aspect) and that´s why i change for a couple of hours to the others.
