I dont think that being an online sub or dom makes anyone any less of who they are. Our real life situations may not allow for it to move forward into that real world. However, that doesn't mean that it is any less real, nor that there are any less feelings behind it.

My path as a submissive started online. Were it not for online, I wouldn't have found out as much as i have. More people are willing to open up online than they would in rl. I've found online to be a great building block for friendships and relationships. You get to know a person, because unless they are the worlds greatest liar, they are going to mix up their story at some point along the way. After even a few days you can usually get a general feel for the "type of person".

As a submissive online, I go through the same emotions and frustrations as a RL sub. There are differences between the two, big differences, like being able to touch your partner, or look in their eyes. In the OL world, our Dom/me/ sub can go missing for days or weeks on end, and its normal.

In the end, being a Dom/me or sub boils down to our own hearts and how we feel about our own selves.