Animation Lock: Why don't you like it?

[Alhanelem]

If I wanted that, though, I'd be playing WoW (though the good gameplay part there, at least imo, would be very questionable).

No animation lock doesn't instantly mean good gameplay. But animation lock certainly doesn't improve gameplay.

In real life you don't have to wait for your "naimations' to finish- One is capable of interrupting one's physical motions, or at least bringing them to a stop quickly if the need arises. Animation lock is an arbitrary 'sorry, you can't do this until i finish waving my arms around'. It's almost like your character is disobeying you.