Good thread, anon, thank you for posting. I've gone down many conspiracy rabbit holes, but all of them eventually bored me or felt empty until...
>Gnosticism
Hands down. Gnosticism and the fallen Spirit. Nothing even comes close. Had a derealization experience years ago and began to look into simulation theory after the terror subsided. Has been the best and worst thing to ever happen to me.
The good:
>closer to truth
>increased fortitude
>0 (ZERO) fear of death
>increased awareness and cognitive capacity
>extreme independence and self mastery, the light of Kristos Lucifer
>Experienced the Self beyond or "behind" the self. Hard to describe. Looked like a wheel with a million fractal faces, all were mine but not "mine". Beyond that, an atemporal glimpse into pure awareness, just the observer without an observed environment. Pure knowing, no falsehood. Like remembering an old friend who is actually you, a feeling of "oh that's right, that's who and what I really am...". It gave rise to the most profound peace and "rightness" that the material world simply cannot offer
The bad
>Demonic attacks, borderline possession. They do not like when a person wakes up. Be ready for panic attacks and bad luck all the time. Immense ego-dystonic thought intrusion. They will make your life hell in the beginning until you shake them. Remember this is a spiritual war. Don't kneel before any of, ever
>can't drink, drug, masturbate, watch television, play games, lie. Can barely eat, lost 30 lbs. All of it, anything material, any indulgence makes you feel like shit when you've awoken the active spirit
>lose friends, old life completely crumbles

Didn't happen by choice. At least not the ego's choice. It was enlightenment without consent. Is it worth the pain? Barely.