I don't understand people's gripes with the graphics. Black Ops graphics were great. And why has it all got to be about graphics anyway? So long as the game plays well (granted online can be a b!tch sometimes) then there shouldn't be much to complain about?
Because that is the whole point of releasing these games, they are meant to be progressive. Otherwise we would still be using the same graphics as per counter strike or Duke Nukem, as the game play was far beyond some of the stuff we have now, but the graphics were pap in comparison.
Games are meant to be immersive, I.E. fool our minds in to thinking that in some respects it is a real life person/vehicle we are controlling.
You wouldn't even look at games like GT or Forza if they looked like ridge racer now would you?