The problem is many parents aren't parents, but a single parent who works multiple jobs. They can't easily control what their kids do since they are not home.
Yeah, I get that completely. In those cases, video games are a comparatively harmless thing for children with no supervision to opt into.
Unless the kid is addicted and plays 5 hours a day. He may not be socializing, getting his homework done, studying, etc.
Agreed, I'm not arguing that video game addiction is good -- it's not. I'm saying that if a parent doesn't have the ability to enforce rules (whether by lack of ability, or because they're too busy supporting the family, or any other reason), then a child breaking the rules to play video games is much better than them breaking the rules in other more destructive ways.