I just want to comment on the idea that the characters are pixels on a screen real quick.
As both a producer (90% of the way through my first novel and I wrote fanfiction for a different fandom previously) and consumer of media, I can safely say that if the characters are just pixels on a screen or letters on a page to you then, in my opinion, something has gone wrong.
If you don't care about the characters, then, by definition, they've fallen into the eight deadly words, the words no writer, actor, director, etc. ever wants to hear: "I don't care what happens to these people." (
original source) The characters in any fictional story are meant to be related to, meant to be cared about in some way, even if you just care about them getting their comeuppance, and if you don't care about them, what's the point?
Do TTers care about their villagers? Probably. I did, back in the only game I TTed in, ACGC. It's just the attitude of "they're just pixels, I don't care about them or about people abusing them" that leaves me just utterly lost. It's easily possible to understand that it's just a game, while still being able to engage with, or at least emphasize with the characters within, even if they aren't real, and for me, that's pretty much the whole point.
(Okay, that wasn't quick, but whatever. At least it's off my chest now)