You can run up can't you? And who says you can't stand still and wait for an opponent in a spar? no actual advantage, the person is still in the same place. Don't even say it looks like lag, because lag is unpredictable and unfair.
Cannot be brought into this.

When I spar on my iPod, I tend to spar more offensively. As long as I can dodge their defense, I can get a hit in without them facing my direction. Learn what works for you. You can't spar everyone the same way. Everyone is different, adapt to it.