3-D or No 3-D

Virtual interaction has been increasing for quite sometime. Recently I read an article of an individual whose social life practically revolves around 3-D communication. Countless people utilize this kind of communication to avoid the disruptions or irritating situations one would face in person. An exmple of this kind of interaction is second life, which people can communicate with the use of an avatar, which is a 3-D character created by the user. This site itself has many uses, socially and business wise. The real question is, can this form of communication replace a person-person conversation or will it be a passing phase.