I think Blender internal renderer is already quite decent, but most people in tutorial uses Cycles or other external renderers.
It’s impossible following tutorials without cycles.
Is it much better rednerer? It seems like no one uses basic intergrated renderer at all.
Cycles = intended for PBR (photo based rendering / photo-real)
Blender Internal = better (now intended) for stylized or NPR (non photo real)
Both come very handy when you know what you want.
BTW everything virtual is fake… synthetic. Don’t blame the medium, it’s human who makes crap or class.