I also played many (10+) years of lfs and the main reason is the game physics. You dont basically have to learn the physics of the game because it feels natural and what a joy that it is!
I did start playing rFactor 2 about 2 years ago and find that they are doing also something right there. I did played alot of BTCC and GT3 cars because they felt kind of nice and the car behavior is good and realistic enough at least when you had some hours on them.
I did yesterday shocked really badly. When i did get used to the BTCC and GT3 cars and then i suddenly did drive rear wheel drive BMW M2 car. Then i was thinking that what a #ell... this car feels so FAKE how it drives. I was always thinked of the BTCC and GT3 cars that they feel some kind of way natural.. but not perfect. Now i get it that the game delevopers and modders have to tweak/mod the cars some ridiculous way to perform "realistic enough" because the basic physics sucks in the game and i think that every game has the same problem. iRacing, ac, acc, am2, rr and so on... that is the main reason why in the game is going on always some weird #hit what dont feel nice and strating to irritate badly.
I never felted in LFS when i changed a car that game physics are done badly, only the vehicle is #hit if it is. There is always commonsense in the physics while you drive the vehicle and how it drives. LFS is the only game what has done the basic physics right. That is the reason why i am playing still the game.
Next thing what im waiting for the game is the track editor. Also the new tyre physics are important and many many many many other little and big things. Still the most what i need is the track editor.