So you are willing to forego a game which potentially has great gameplay because its graphics are not industry leading? A true gamer would never do that.
Look, you just mentioned games that have great graphics (although I'd argue that 1st 2 STALKER games, WiC and CoH are nothing special) and also have great gameplay.
Yet, you failed to mention some PC gems like Starcraft 1 & 2, Quake 3 Arena, UT1999-2004, Deus Ex, Diablo 1 & 2, Half-Life 1 & 2, Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher's Bay, Mass Effect 1 & 2, Warcraft 2 & 3, Command & Conquer Red Alert 2, Age of Mythology, Far Cry 1, GTAIV, Batman: AA, Dead Space, Bioshock, Max Payne 1 & 2, Warhammer Dawn of War, Baldur's Gate, IL2-Sturmovik, Red Baron, etc, etc. which all have outstanding gameplay but avg. graphics.
^^^ Since Crysis 2 has better graphics than the games I listed above, I guess these games are also not worth buying in your opinion? So you are basically saying unless the game has the best graphics and the best gameplay, then you won't buy it? The thing is these games are at least as good if not better than the games you mentioned in terms of enjoyment factor. Also, if a game cannot be great without great graphics, according to your theory, then should we conclude that there are no great console games?
Can you also elaborate on what DX11 'label' brings to the table over DX9 / DX10 that is SO important? I play Dirt 2 in DX11 and I can tell you DX11 is a joke in that game. I can't tell the difference between DX9 and DX11 in Dirt 2. Unless DX11 is going to drastically increase the level of detail or texture quality in Crysis 2, all it will likely bring is a massive performance hit courtesy of NV's billion tessellation triangles. Is that going to bring the game to a crawl to 25 fps like a Unigine Heaven Demo? No thanks!
You're kind of cherry picking my argument here, my point was that there are many games that have BOTH features, great graphics and great gameplay.
My point NEVER touched the topic of games with 'poor' graphics and great gameplay, such as Torchlight, a game I have put over 50 hours into playing.
Nobody is going to deny there are thousands of excellent games with average graphics or worse, so why would I try and do that ? I didn't.
The MAIN reason I am willing to forgo a game like Crysis 2 is MOSTLY because I (and many others) purchased the original Crysis first and foremost for it's earth shattering graphics. Crysis 2, no matter how 'good' it looks on an 8+ year old API (8 YEARS OLD!), is a slap in the face to the hardcore gaming community, or anybody who has bought a video card since 2007.
DX11 (and 10 in this case) is so much more than many 'haters' will attribute to it. Try playing BFBC2 in DX9, then go to DX10 or DX11, 'maxed' out on both API's, and try and tell me there isn't a vast difference, because there is. Both visually, and performance wise.
Strictly using DX10 or DX11 (and coded properly) over DX9 also brings with it performance gains if IQ is remained unchanged (See Far Cry 2 DX9 vs. 10 performance numbers)
Also, your example of a DX11 game is a poor one, Dirt 2 was more of a marketing strategy for ATI and their new DX11 cards than an actual DX11 masterpiece. Just because a game HAS DX11 doesn't mean it was implimented properly, and that is on the developer. Other games (like WOW) have DX11 codepaths but do not show any difference what-so-ever, is the DX11 codepath to blame ? NO. The developers are to blame. Remember Bioshock ? DX10 cut performance alot, but did not add to quality... but I don't think many would deny that DX10 has come leaps and bounds further from that beginning.
I choose to shun Crysis 2 because of their newfound console love, their REGRESSION of technology on the PC platform, and the fact that Crysis 1's gameplay wasn't much to write home about (again most will agree with me here) I think those factors are perfectly legitimate for staying away from a game....Oh yeah, did I mention the 10 dollar console tax we get too ?
My principle keeps me from buying, if you have less principle, or other principles go ahead and buy it, I would never look down on that.
The main point I want to make, again, is that there are developers who can do BOTH great gameplay and graphics, what is wrong with wishing they were all like that ? And condemning those who refuse to.
Edit: lastly, the game I referred to were excellent graphics at RELEASE (obviously ?)
Dragon Age 2 is just plain atrocious on nvidia hardware. 
Facebook
Twitter