Think of game rules and larping when you play table-top games.What's a "system"?
You add immersion by playing the character and fantasizing the world you live in. Owl-cat was interviewed on theses topics in the past. Table-top rules/play are a huge influence.
At the end of the day I play city builders and sim games so I'm not bothered.
I agree just look at BioWare and the discussions about romance.But I guess for every gamer there are game features that for them are wasted ressources, like voice overs, romances, crafting etc.