You're in a ship, but it's not controlled as any other simulator is. You don't have active control of it. You click, and it goes where you click. It's not a typical space simulator. Yes. You command a ship. It has RTS style controls though. And I don't know how you're getting $19 per month, as I'm billed only $15. And sure. Diablo was free online play. Did those servers host close to 75,000 people (max I've seen peak), on a single server at one time? You pay for every expansion for Diablo, too. Whereas EVE gives you them for free. To each their own, though. The game hasn't survived, and prospered, for close to six years for some small feat alone.