It would be difficult. While the ability to communicate and tell people about yourself would create some from of intamency (assuming all parties are being honest about themselves) there has to be a certain lack of trust when compared to a freind that you can look at, listen too, interact with in real world enviroments. People can control too much of themselves when you are not with them in the real world.

This electronic interaction is new for me so I can't say yet.

Yes

Yes. Theyve lasted many years and I have a few ongoing from 1-4 years ago. I can still talk pretty comfortably with a few from more than 10 years ago, though we havent talked in a long time and rarely do within the last few.

Yup. I made many long term friends from playing an online game. Most I never met in person. Some, I did.

Yes, my best friend became my best friend long before we met in person. We met playing EverQuest together. I miss him dearly; he died what he loved doing; hiking.

There are different types/levels of friends, 'real' is a term one must decide on an individual basis imo.

That depends on your definition of friendship and your and their expectations. But it is really a question only you can answer. If you have the feeling and you are not packing too many expectations as to the reciprocity of these friendships.

I am sorry to hear that you lost your friend .

Yes you can. It takes a connection and effort on both ends to stay in communication and reach out. This helps if either party is not too busy with work and/or kids and has time for this. My best friend lives in the USA, we have visited one another over the years. But our friendship remains long distance. I think even if we had never met, he'd still be my best friend because he has all the great values and the similar positive traits I have, that I look for in people. I have found it is harder to remain close friends with people that are struggling with health or mental health issues or with people that have a poor work-life balance, aka they work so much that they barely have down time and are too exhausted to engage with others.