Did ppl forget this is not only a MMO, but also a rebuilt one?

1.0 failed due to an engine that wasn't original designed or intended for a MMO or its server architecture and had heavy limitations. Those pretty graphics also restricted the hell out of accessibility a step further.

Even if Tanaka was still around, the game would have still hit that point and they would have had to go with a different engine as it was that limited for a MMO's life cycle.

ARR brought balance, accessibility, and playability. At it's current state graphically it is equal and in many ways surpasses its peers. On top of that a DX11 client in the future and hopefully a hi-rez texture option.

Even if you go all out graphically what is the point, every 2 years you would be blowing millions in money and resources to graphically upgrade to maintain non-MMO current graphic standards. When that money could go towards content.