Perhaps the discussion has been diverted by mention of ‘realism’, I prefer Phil Sabin’s term, which is ‘accuracy’. You don’t need a game to be a simulation to achieve a degree of accuracy but it does depend on what accuracy you are after. More discussion here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/07/how-can-wargame-be-realistic.html
I cannot disagree! Otherwise Phil will be disappointed

But certainly he made a well considered point on the term, also because realism is a word everyone use for a different meaning.