Question for you fine folk...

What's the appeal of "real person" fics?

I'm not being rhetorical or a smart ass-- I honestly am curious, because there's obviously an appeal, and I'm not sure I understand it.  Is it sort of like having a god complex?  That is, if you write/ read about real people, it's as if you are able to control the world in a way that you will never have the opportunity to do?

Any opinions on this are welcome and hoped for.  I like knowing why people write/read what they do.

C