While I personally like the battle scenes as well and always look forward to seeing what Fujino comes up with, it's sadly such a narrative hole. Every time they go into FOG, it feels like a chore storywise. Usually, people playing on a daily basis are excited, and even more so in the case of SAO, because it is the main point of the whole franchise. VR changed their whole life; it's also the place where they met and started their relationship. I have a feeling that was done way better in Part 1, so I have to agree with Alter: it seems like it's just getting more and more irrelevant. But I guess maybe Inoda will keep doing it just to justify the whole 'pretend to be his gf' storyline.
And don't get me started on how nonsensical the whole 'VR doesn't count' bullshit is