Well how much the "real life" start matters depends on you. Rosters have to be set at some point in time based on what the database you get is based on, unless you wanna create a database from scratch (lol), but you can also edit the databases to start your own organization in there or heavily edit rosters of existing feds before starting (work-- less work in EWR), or just make so many hires/fires/tweaks to start the game that it doesn't matter aside from stats and how good your organization starts.
I mean as far as current state of storylines and such Tom/myself are just doing that to make it "realistic" or something they aren't stored or anything.
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I tried to have a fierce rivalry with SuperNiceDog, but he made me look worse than a GameFAQs Contest!