Printing a soft-proofed copy of a RAW file

The Proof Copy (VC) exists because you soft proofed an image AND started editing based on that soft proof. So you'd want to print from that Proof Copy. You are creating output specific edits, so you'd want to output those edits. 

The virtual copy, of course. Why would you create a special printing virtual copy at all if you eventually would not use it for printing? You do not have to "turn it from a virtual copy into a real image file". As long as you're in Lightroom, a virtual copy is like a real copy. The fact that it's virtual is just a technicality that is of no concern. Just select the virtual copy for printing, that's all.

(Because I am learning the ropes I have a habit of tinkering with images and I can see a situation in the future where I have a RAW file plus various copies - virtual or otherwise - which I have edited differently and dont know which one associated with the hardcopy prints)

If you're prinitng to a local printer attached to your system simply give the virtual copy a unique 'Copy Name' using the Library module's Metadata panel. If using an outside priting service choose 'Print To' JPEG File in the Print module's Print Job panel. You can also add keywords, color labels, star ratings, and pick flags to the virtual copy for better identification. No need to export it to an actual file copy.