You make a lot of good points, we have all seen the alterations to the the timeline personally from my research in to black history has shown how 200 years is all it takes to change the world history. The machine is very complex and there is a strong to define chance that one day VR will be no different from real life. AI will one day get smart enough to over power us, and given these facts there is a slim to strong chance we are already in that virtual world!

Then again it is just as likely I'm in a padded room somewhere banging my head against a wall saying "computers" Just saying.

This is a game and we are pawns, you will never win but play the game to gain or go off grid to escape! o and keep smiling