This is almost entirely a game functionality. Decks awash is extremely dangerous in real life, the center of gravity shifts, and the boat can easily capsize due to waves. When diving and surfacing, this point is crossed quickly, but to travel this way is dangerous, and was forbidden by the diving regulations. There were exceptions, U-995 flooded down to the point where her decks were awash to enter a Norwegian fjord. And there are a few other instances I have seen, so it’s a matter of weighing the relative risks. There is also the issue of the boat undercutting in this situation, without warning, especially at night, without ample time for the bridge watch to notice. So the risks are many. And in most situations, it was moot - the profile of a surfaced submarine was incredibly difficult to spot at night anyway in a normal swim condition A or B situation.
The game gives you none of the associated risks. I don’t use it, except for simulating exhaust blowing when surfacing. I will go decks awash, come topside, check the horizon to make sure all clear, and only then order a full surface, to simulate the standard surfacing procedure of blowing only a little high-pressure air into the ballast tanks, and then emptying them using diesel exhaust.
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