Speaking from the other side of the issue (as a dom)... I'm not overly fond of on-line. It lacks the impact of real-time, and prior to 2 years ago I would never have considered an on-line relationship. Having said that, I met my girl on-line (the local community where I was living at the time was a non-starter in terms of a BDSM relationship) and got to know her well. The intention, however, was to move to real-time if it seemed we had the spark required to do so.

We got on very well on-line - we used web-cameras and Skype mainly (distance was very significant) and telephone occasionally. It was okay. What it allowed us to do was to get to know each other well. I went to visit her - again - distance was significant and I prefer to be the one travelling - leaving the girl on her 'safe ground' as it were.

Well - we were both truthful on-line and the relationship really went stratospheric when we met (last summer). We have been together since then in real-time.

On-line gave us the opportunity to meet and get to know each other. Without it we'd never have got together. In that regard I am definitely a fan of on-line - essentially as a way of developing a relationship in real-time that otherwise would not have been possible.

In terms of the on-line/real-time debate I think what is really important is finding something that completes you and meets your needs, or at least, gives you the opportunity to move into a real relationship (whether it is on-line or real-time is immaterial if you find someone who resonates in your soul, after all).

Best of luck!