I have friends in MMORPGs. This should probably not surprise anyone! Not just because this is tied directly into my job, although that helps, but because I like talking with people, making jokes, and trying to help other people have fun in the game we’re all playing together. But there’s a difference between, say, Kickpunch Handfist, whom I only know as an absolutely amazing tank, and Kyle. Kyle’s a dude and we hang out aside from the game. He sent me a card for my birthday. I helped his son on the SATs. Different relationship.
This is hypothetical. I don’t know anyone named Kyle.
Whether or not your friend list is overflowing or not in a given MMORPG isn’t the deciding factor on how many genuine friends you have in an MMORPG. Maybe you only have a half-dozen people whom you know and like and interact with personally; maybe none of your in-game friends are that kind of friend. Maybe they all are. How many genuine friends would you say you have in MMORPGs?