Assessing the performance overhead of realism-focused modifications in sandbox engines

When examining the current state of sandbox roleplay environments, one must consider the impact of hyper-realistic physics and lighting modules on engine stability. While these enhancements offer a profound level of visual immersion, the resulting performance overhead often compromises the fluidity of the core mechanics. Do you believe that the pursuit of graphical realism is a necessary progression for the genre, or does it eventually reach a point of diminishing returns where mechanical reliability is sacrificed? I would be interested in a technical discussion regarding the balance between fidelity and frame consistency