I get asked why people buy/rent/lease virtual land a lot. It’s both a tough question to answer and an easy one at the same time.

Having virtual land is like most people having a front yard.

The common-case front yard is costly to maintain over time. There are expenses involved, both monetary and in upkeep time. And then what? It doesn’t actually do anything except sit there. You can stand on it. Sit in it. The neighbors can appreciate the work (or lack of work) that you put in it.

And that’s about it. Maybe, with a local council permit you can put a lemonade stand or microscopic business venture on it.

Why have a front yard at all? In most cases, it’s either just extra space, or raw self-expression. Or both. The parallels between that sort of use and virtual land are very strong, though.