I don't think we should be making excuses for this company or just easily accepting whatever excuse they come up with. But I also don't think that the whole game hinges on relitivley small features in the full scope of the design.

I think the animations do need to be better and we can't just bank on the idea that it -might- change later. The game might not fail if it isn't improved, sure, but I see no reason for quality to suffer in the hands of some of the most skilled artists in the industry. For a game as visually based in reality as this, things like momentum and transition really give your character that extra hook and makes everything feel all the more alive. This isn't a concern to be stifled, but it isn't one to balence your expectations for the total quality of the game either.

We don't know what's going to happen, so keep those concerns coming, but keep them in check.