It's like having to go to a well to get water vs tap water : it's a reliable and easy way to get infinite source of (passive) entertainment, but not only.

But the excesses you mention are pathological : most people don't have trouble allocating enough time to the "physical world".

And to counterbalance this negative view : a "higher" form of stimuli also allows higher possibilities. Like cave painting and face to face communication offer inferior possibilities than more modern vectors.