Recent reviews by Python1320

I am a programmer so my view reflects more on programming:
Compared to Garry's Mod VRChat is much more locked down now. They allow you to have a Wiremod-level experience more or less (for non-gmodders this means you get a sandbox with some fun coding blocks, but that is about it). At least you can now interface minimally with the outside world via OSC.
Don't get me wrong, you can do many things you can't do in games like GMod so there can be lots of things to create despite just worlds and avatars and much to learn, BUT you might hit annoying walls/ceilings just like in GMod and other games. No more extending/customizing anything except what they let you.

Basically VRChat is similar to Discord where you have one specific above-average experience and are not allowed to extend it except through specific predefined ways (OSC for VRChat ... and limited bot interface for Discord, for example).
There is inherently nothing wrong with this, but it makes the experience feel less like a community journey and more a locked down corporate watercooler environment (which we are trying to escape during our time off!!). No more "I can do anything" feeling.

Venture capital money lets you make awesome things, but in exchange you have to make profit one way or another. Discord Nitro and VRC+ just might not be enough to sustain this in the long run, maybe they can do what Discord did and get percentage from various side-activities. I don't know, the future for both of them is uncertain. Definitely not going anywhere any time soon, though.

Alternatives?

• There is Chillout VR which is "functional" and only expands when funding expands. It does not have a need to make profit except to cover server costs and development/maintenance. Of course anything can change here too and the bus factor is about the same (lead developer could disappear for whatever reason leaving the future uncertain).
  
• Neos is more for visual programmers, so wiremod. Rather complex and undocumented. On the other side you have a lot of helpful people and might get hooked on building things with them. Plus desktop mode is more or less usable. Also closed source, but distant rumors of possibly getting open sourced when the time is right if ever.
  
• Garry's Mod has VR via VRMod with full body tracking as a community plugin (wow!) but the experience is definitely subpar, still, very usable and impressive and the physics beat the physics of every mentioned game.