But it's not how type 2 hypervisors work, and traditionally when you used virtual machines on a desktop it was type 2.

That was long time ago, most people using VMware also use ESXi, and mainframes use type 1 as well.

Just those using Virtual Box for free not.

> most people using VMware also use ESXi

Most people using it are also using servers. Is ESXi on desktops/workstations anything other than very niche?

Yeah and? The whole point was about knowing what type 1 hypervisors are all about.

Where they are used is orthogonal to having knowledge.

Managing VMware installations requires having that knowledge.