To get a roleplaying game going you have to make it past as many hassles as any party of adventurers ever faced in a dungeon—only instead of traps that sever your hand if you put it in a statue's mouth they're more like scheduling issues and the difficulty of finding a group you vibe with.
Playing online with a virtual tabletop means at least people don't have to come to your house, which is one hassle less, but can cause its own problems. Some virtual tabletops have to be paid for, some require everyone to sign up to the service...