Well said Hughjr. You're exactly right. It would seem you've spent some time in pool halls. For the most part I think these games are close to the real thing although I have one very big gripe. When a ball is tight to the rail and the shooter at right angles to it, the player hits the ball dead on and it somehow travels down the rail into a pocket. Absolutely not possible. Let's see you do that on a real table. Have you ever seen a pro even attempt that shot? Maybe Willie Mosconi or other trick shot artists but I've never seen any of them do that either. That ruins this game in my opinion. You play someone safe and they do a ridiculous shot like that. And then there is NoMove in 8ball. How stupid is that? I think it started because someone was not able to kick at a hook or they scratched and so their opponent got ball in hand. So rather than learn to control the shooter and learn to kick at hooks, they decided to change the game. Pathetic really. That takes defense out of the game. In every sport or game there are rules and there are penalties if you make infractions, just like in football etc. Most good players play offensively but, if you don't have a shot, play safe or even hook your opponent. That's how the game is played.
So learn the game, don't change the rules.