Well, I see the big problem underneath. Some people takes those games personally. Those games are designed to be non personal.It means we should not mix real life with game.
So many people gets personally involved, that is the problem I see in such games.
It all depends on you, the way you look into them. Personally, I used to play a MMORPG called Silkroad Online for a period of about 2 years. Even then, I was 2 levels from the maximum level.
Why was it addictive to me? I've met a lot of new people there, i've had fun experiences with them through voice chatting and live gaming. If you have the time, I don't really think it's a waste, however... when you don't have time, you're wasting your life.
I don't see a really big risk, you should just have a strong character so you can quit whenever you want(which ain't always easy, but I think it's much easier than other, more serious addictions).
You get more invloved with the characters and you fell a since of accomplishment when you slay a hard boss or battle. You can watch the development of your charaters.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.