Hi JWB! Yes, i definitely agree with what you say here. I can think of lots of times when people were just visiting out of character, often on an SG channel or a global chat channel, while playing. And that doesn't include all the people, myself too on occasion, who very much enjoyed in-character, in-game roleplaying. (No, I wasn't a regular at Pocket D on Virtue, but can appreciate the appeal and enjoyment for those into it.) With all the teamups, helping one another, and in and out of character visiting, no wonder real friendships were created, and in some cases still endure. (Hugs to @Heroette, for example, and to @Healix, who I met only after server shutdown here on Titan.)
LOL, AlphaFerret, that takes me back! I can sure relate to what you are saying and LOL, sometimes I would intervene as you describe regardless of level. I remember one late night during my first couple of months making a noobish attempt to keep the streets of Steel Canyon free from crime, mostly from the (then) yellowline train station to Wentworth's. I had fun roleplaying big time in my head, wondered about the counter (I don't think any of these counted towards defeats badges and besides I was such a grass-green noob I had no idea what those were), but eventually got tired of defeating Grays and roleplaying Hero in my head and went on to the next arc, confident that, either for XP or not, in time another hero would come along to sweep these streets clean once again! Ditto for hunting out the hill in the Hollows! Fun times!