If you are rated 2200 USCF, then you understand the game on a different level than most of us. I can understand that being a lot more rewarding and fun. Having a social network of chess friends in real life that you can play with must be awesome. That sounds a lot cooler than playing on a site. But don't you also just love playing the game? Or is it only the social interaction that you love?
There are bound to be numerous reasons to play online, but a few off the top of my head:
Convenience: I can boot up my laptop and play a live game in my underwear and a bag of fritos and an ice cold coke zero in my master bedroom. I can play on my smartphone in my car on my lunch break. I have also played friends at work on a smartphone as well. You can play chess here 24x7x365, but how often are you able to drive to the club and play a few games?
Its Fun: You are old school (not an insult), so you might not get this, but if you have been playing for 50 year, then I'm guessing that you have a tendency to avoid computers and anything to do with them. Thats ok. But its a brave new world dude. We who use computers don't hate them and find playing here to be fun. (Try the live chess. Maybe turn-based didn't turn you on, so play a few blitz games. Its so exciting you might nearly have a coronary.)
Challenging: On this site you can find players any day of the week who are your strength or stronger. In a club you might not find that. If you live in Manhattan or some huge area like that, then you probably will. But if you live in a normal town, then your club will have a few regulars and you will not be able to play one of them any day of the week that is close to your own strength.
I'm a newbie here. Titled membership must be wonderful. I'm sure my ego could use a boost. Hell, ego might be the answer to my original post. Perhaps later we could play and you can make a decision as to what I am or am not. A victory might boost your ego.
If you're speaking to me, then yes, I have played two 2200s on here and was completely destroyed but, I felt privileged to play them. So, go and beat a few people as quick as possible so when I lose to you my rating won't go down that much, please