I think a system could be developed where both the real time travel and the rapid transit travel could be used within the same game.

For example:

 - If you are out and about just meandering through the universe exploring, why not use a realistic travel model that allows you time to access on baord systems, run some sensor scans, participate in some holodeck fun with friends and further train your Starfleet officer. This would be an excellent model and would make Ship Interiors much more justified. Furthermore, if you were about to log off for the night, your guild (ship crew) could set a course, and you go off duty to your quarters and simply log out, then when you log back in, you are in the destination system and can begin some missions and stuff.

- Rapid Transit could be used when accompanied with a mission or if you are covering ungodly amounts of space between set points (much like Flight Paths in WoW). This would make multi-planet / multi-system missions much easier to take on. However, you could also be allowed to take a slow path during missions if you chose, where that time could be used to conduct work for the mission on ship such as scientific studies, long range scans, research on an enemy, tactical / security training, etc.

Realistic travel times make the game seem more like a simulation which really isnt a bad thing and of course allows for ship work, time in the holodeck,many things. I think rapid transit could be used like for traveling to hubs like Earth. But if like your ships ends up near the edge of universe like say voyager Rapid transit shold be disabled. Some missions where alot of fighting occurs you might want to travel a
while before you say engage another enemy in a war situation. Times should be also realistic based on the ship's current warp factor. On a sidenote no going beyond warp 5 unless the situation is critical meaning no traveling at warp 9.5 for a normal stellar cartography mission.

I don't see how realistic time is a problem, start at say 20 years after generations, then click the time up slowely (say 1 in game day = 1 real week). this way the date will never get far fetched or run into a snafu. wouldn't be hard to show the stardate you accepted the mission, and see how long it's taken you to complete it. plus at 60 years till TNG, you have 420 years of game play  :andorian1:

I'm a huge fan of RT games too, but i think 1 Real day = 1 game day, is a bit excessive.  You'd never get anything done! Especially if they use a training system similar to eve online....

Haha I think we missunderstand eachother... I mean only in the passage of time, you know sun up sun down. WoW is Real Time but people still get things done on a regular basis. The real time aspect would be for keeping of records and saying... "hay its 4am and I've been decorating my ship all night, mabey I should go to bed" lol. I agree things have to be in a reasonable time scale, the ability to get on for 30mins and have fun and be productive and then log out should be a goal of the developers, but also have enough content to keep the hardcore 24-7 people happy.