[CB..]

here's a slightly contentiuos thought...not dissimilar to the gameplay versus graphics confusion..spend time and money on the graphics or spend time and money on the gameplay ( a nonsense if you ask me)

if the developers spent less time making sure that each destroyer had exactly the right number of portholes masts funnels rivets turning circle top speed etc etc etc- endlessly on and on
they might have enough time to write genuinely realistic AI routines for the said destroyer...and that IMO is the issue in a nut shell both on realism versus gameplay AND realism versus graphics..

want a 100% realistic (light glinting on the windows etc) destroyer with all the correct specs and equipment?
so you can pretend your up against the "real thing"
or genuinely realistic AI tactics co-operation movements (pineapple manuevers etc etc)....because apparantly developers are not capable of doing both at the same time..as some would have us believe..

the AI is the game...full stop...good AI will give many hours of enjoyment..and be realistic at the same time..you need to be made to feel that those DD captains up top tracking you down are human..not automated life less characterless BOTS simply going thru the motions

there are ways and means of tackling and prioritising realism that add to the gameplay...and to the enjoyment of the game, immaccolata mentioned crew conversations, very realistic very immersive and very enjoyable,
enjoyable gameplay in this genre is all about creating a convincing illusion there's no reason why that illusion should not contain as much dynamic detail as say an RPG, using references from history this would be entirely realistic, and enjoyable.
what ever you choose to call it realism or gameplay it is about dynamic details..a living world, not just a dead beat black or white game enviourment beacuse that is in itself the most unrealistic detraction possible

if you/me/any-one do/does not enjoy playing the sim/game then why would anyone play it? macsosism??? some deluded idea that it actualy makes you/me/any-one a hero? give it a bit of thought and you can see how barmy the idea is..