That is true. Dominions mastery can only be achieved in seclusion, for it requires a perfect understanding of the world that can't be reached when polluted by material things such as human interaction.
Anyway, the IRC is a great option if you don't believe you are fit to become one of the vaunted Dominion ascetics, and Blitzing is allegedly rather fun, to boot.
Blitz to PBEM is more like competitive chess with a timer to freeform amateur chess where the amateurs try to emulate the masters of pro-chess.
, did I go too far? I have never Blitzed on the IRC and I'm conscious that most innovation occurs in the PBEM arena.