Actually WoW's graphics are poor in comparison to Eq2, Vanguard and a few others, they at no point focused on gfx, it's 'cartoony' on purpose.
People like what they like and I agree it is personal preferance. I don't go after Guild Wars (unless provoked) heck I liked the sound of it pre-release and I don't mind or am suprised that it has a user base. But I kinda get annoyed when people make silly claims or trash talk the elephant in the room (in Gen2 in WoW, in Gen1 Everquest) just cause they feel they have to convince themselves and others that they made the right choice.
'I don't want to pay for something I have to update constantly'
So you don't own software of any kind ? anitVirus ? I'm pretty sure you had to use a browwer to access this page, they update.
Tbh, they only patch every few weeks (~2 months lately) these contain anything from bug fixes to class 'balance' and what they seem to be focusing on more lately content. Free content at that, tbh I thought their expansion (2 years- 3years from release) program bordered on sucidal when general rule of thumb (until that point) dictated that the life cycle of the game requires atleast 1 per year. Consider this pre Burning Crusade this game had no end game rading planned.
Molten Core
Blackwing Lair
Zul'Gurub
Ahn'Quarji 20/40man instances and it's opening event (server wide event)
Naxraamas and it's opening event (server wide)
Warsong Gultch (10man battleground)
Alterac Valley (40man battleground)
Arathi Highlands (15 man battleground)
We're all added post release and for 'free' I'll take my update every few weeks if it's all the came to you.