Raze, to my opinion, graphic is as much importent to the game as the story line and game play. good games contain it all + good OST with bass.
and any one who preffer playing classic rpgs only for the storyline and game play- doesn't know what his missing.

examples to rpg game with good graphic: (this one im playing is mmo, but its all the same)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/09/os681_perfectworld_580.jpg
http://vaultmedia.ign.com/rpgvault/image/article/896/896976/perfectworld08080701a_1218076005.jpg
http://static.mmohub.org/game/perfect-world/images/screenshots/screen/perfect-world-8.jpg

and i agree. graphic isnt larian's biggest potential problem. in fact larian's "level of graphic" is fair and reasonable. unlike some games i know that looks like they only work on dos.
any way, i just hope that they will keep upgrading it. (hey, even wow's graphics got upgraded when blizzard released their third expansion)

now, im not sure about the difference between this year and last year's graphics.. all i know is that companys that use graphic engine's just install improvments to them. like light reflection on cave walls.
unlike major intallment such as frontal image of art+space, like watching a forest from afar,and how realistic it looks.

you could compare what you said to dark messiah, and it's multiplayer, which was a minor enhancement.
and i compare it to dungeon siege 1, with its multiplayer, which kept me playing that game another year or so.
i guess its an issue of taste


heh, about the thieves comment. ok. so their thives. wont change the fact that any one with bit torrent or utorrent (etc..) illigaly download games. and thats like 70% of the gamers. 20% never heard about torrents, and only 10% deside to buy it propper.
the thives see free way to get a game and they do that. its not fair to the game makers and is the future doom to the game industry, that already geting bankrupted unless they make online P2P games (like counter strike or monthly fee mmorpgs..or free mmorpg with inside cash shops)
but even if they steal games. some games are worth paying for, so they buy them.

and yea, there are many reasons why to delay poblishing. like avoiding clash's with more promissing games (like when harry potter been delayed, all the other movies got delayed too), or when it will make more money in holydays evening
but the whole ranting is about the overdue of the delaying.