I actually think it does at least help to be a Zwift user to appreciate these more.
No, I can imagine it is not much like pro racing perhaps (though I would not know). However, it is pretty close to Cat 3 & 4 (you find yourself often in a group of 20-30 riders who all have similar FTP and cannot break away from each other until the final sprint).
It is all Watts/Kg for now and very little else, though the watts saved when riding behind someone else is pretty cool.
It also depends somewhat on the trainer you are on as that can alter the responsiveness. I have a Kickr Snap, so there can be a fraction of delay to respond to accelerations, and I can find myself surging or losing a wheel when I don't intend.
However, when I first started getting into the whole trainer app world, I never thought I would want to do Zwift. I, too, was not interested in a "gamified" world like Watopia. Thought it a bit stupid and that I could never be as immersed as a real world video app. So I first tried out other apps that used video footage of real climbs etc.
To my surprise, what I found is that video ones were just one step above staring at a wall.
When I got on Zwift, I was totally shocked that I much preferred the interactivity. And, given a choice, I ride Watopia courses over the "real" Richmond, London, Yorkshire, New York, etc... courses that are offered. The key to enjoyment, as with every game, is primarily how it plays (the mechanics), not necessarily how "true" it is.
And I have no doubt it will only improve and get better from here.