But this is about the graphics, and good graphics pretty indisputably do make good graphics.

These aren't good graphics though, they're realistic graphics. "Good" is subjective, and most people who have been playing games for a decent amount of time have moved past their "realism is the most important aspect of game visuals" phase.

In recent years I've been way more impressed by the visual design of highly stylized, anti-realistic games that, instead of simply trying to look like real life, instead create environments with distinct looks that you don't get anywhere else.