Not exactly. With a VLM a RNG (more precisely, a pseudo-random number generator) fires up as soon as you hit the play button, your result is determined, and either a slot machine spin or a video poker hand is generated to match the result that has been determined for you.
With a traditional slot machine (let's say a reel spinner for the sake of argument) the reels are themselves the random number generator and your payout is determined directly by their result. Subtle difference, and from the point of view of the average slot player there is no difference, but what the player may believe is happening isn't what is actually happening and that might be dishonest. In the case it's video poker it's deceptive because a VP AP knows the fact that his skill is what allows him to make money while most other player lose money, when we see a 9/6 paytable on a machine that means something. You might say that if a VLM offered a 99.5% return with the same standard deviation as 9/6 VP and comps and cashback that allow a VP AP to make a profit that would be just fine and dandy, but that would never work because every player would be playing with the skill of a VP AP and the casino would lose money on the machines.
To put it philosophically, you can say that the cards in a VP machine are dealt by an RNG, and if you play perfect VP strategy your hand is also predetermined as soon as you start the game. You could extend that to your session being predetermined as soon as you walk into the casino, because you are going to react to each hand in a fully predictable way and the only uncertain element is that same RNG that runs the VLM's and every other digital game in a casino. So I'm not sure where to draw the ethical line. But for sure disguising a machine as 9/6 JoB with fine print telling you it's really just a VLM with 95% or so return is on the wrong side of that line.
