And Gaia Online is a forum based community, not a game based community. Thus, you can't truely compare the two of them in equal thoughts. Some would prefer a forum, while others would prefer a game.
If they were both forums, or if they were both games, then it would be less biased.
I don't like games that take place in real time, with all the users moving around you. I find it intimidating. Plus, I think Gaia is more fun, and the avatars are cuter. So there!
... I also love Gaia's NPCs and storyline. 3nodding