That's a good point, "Am I possibly the only one who, when a firearm doesn't work in a dream, yells "THAT'S NOT HOW THEY WORK!" and either wake up or have better performance from the weapon? o.o"
That's lucid dreaming where you can go from a powerless experiencer of the dream to taking an active position where you consciously start directing how things happen. Like common dreams I used to have of suddenly being chased and I try to run but I don't get anywhere, like running on the spot! Very frustrating indeed. When I would calm down, and relax which was hard, I could consciously feel myself able to move again, and usually I ended up flying away instead, but doing it consciously. It felt real but was surreal. So yes I get what you mean.