Can you instantly change the wheels on your real car with absolutely no affect on unsprung weight?
Does an oil change give you 30 horsepower? Is it required the moment the car's driven off the lot?
Does every car you've driven have the same 900-degree rotation for the steering wheel? How's about the driving aids on a Citroen 2CV, those are handy, huh?
Options are what's needed in any good racing game. Having the option to turn off damage, if the player sees fit, broadens the appeal of the game, which is much better idea for continuing PD's success than following one random elitist's narrow-minded view on what's "right".