I get you.
The game only stays exciting if it's the real thing. Once you know it's a simulation its only exciting while it lasts. But coming out of a simulation is not the same as surviving the real thing, right? (Unless, you don't know that it's VR).
Flying hundred years ago was a real thing. It was dangerous and life threatening. It still is but doesn't feel that way. Same with driving. It could kill you but doesn't feel that way. Probably hunting was the same thing in humans past.
Now space traveling is only the real thing because it's so exciting. You can win and lose it all. As an astronaut. Once it becomes a custom for everyone, it becomes a normal habit. Than there is no novelty and no excitement involved. I agree on that with you.
I think modern people paid already the high price for certainty (less novelty) - we live longer, we stay longer healthy, we travel, we move like there were no tomorrow. But it's not the real thing. Where you could die any moment. Some times it really becomes a nuisance to us that we made living in modern times so certain. But we made it a really dangerous thing to be an animal or plant. From their perspective it's probably the most uncertain times on earth. Which will turn out to be something we will - I think - inevitably get what we wish for (and what we weren't wanting, too).