i disagree because rpgs are a mixture of wargaming with cooperative theater, in varying doses. writing a book doesn’t make me understand the world better. understanding is what allows me to write a book. what practice play of RPGs give you is a better ability to write. that’s the boundaries of RPGs as a mental exercise. nobody is gonna sell scam books on logic because they play RPGs a lot, they’ll do it because they are good at being grifters.
besides. RPGs are also a historical product. the understanding that you gain from playing a campaign is the understanding that the authors had. see the TSR moral and ethics code.