Most podfic is not like a play, actually, and I don't think anyone is suggesting that it should be. It's more like someone telling a story. Actually, that's exactly what it is. : )

And most collaborative podfic is not like a play, either--I mean, we don't usually splice together dialogue (though some people do). Usually we take a story that is told in alternating POV, or split up into separate pieces some other way, and take turns reading the whole sections, so it's like several people taking turns telling a story.

But yeah, I do agree that if you're to do podfic that is meant to be like a play with several actors, then it would be better to act it out in real time, and I think that's part of what Theatripod is trying to do.