I agree, you can play the game without the VMU.
It is also possible that it is hard to integrate the original code interaction with the device.
But, it is a pity, nonetheless. Not a great deal, but still slightly sad.
Well, for the moment, I don't plan on buying the collection,
as they have no physical PC version.
I hope, if a lot of patches are deployed, that we may have PC physical version,
as an "ultimate disc version" of some kind, bundled with SH3.
To be honest, with these ports, I think that we lose some and gain some.
Appart from the bugs to be patched, I feel like we win more than we lose.
But, I think it is the right thing to mourn the little we lose, anyway,
before accepting the game in this reborn state.