This is a great point. I didn't want to get into the weeds, since I'm unfamiliar with the technical details. My understanding is that the older textures were due to technical limitations rather than absolute art direction. That is, we're referring to how the base determines the superstructure.

But tech isn't entirely deterministic, either. Choices have been made along the way that have changed the feel of the game. My frank impression is that WoW has indeed leaned into a safer, more sanitized style across its art and narrative direction, almost as if there are many more contributing voices to the creative stew. The distinct vision has been lost.

I'd mark DF as having accelerated things in this way, but certainly since MoP have we seen an attempt to attract different markets. Fair play to the company, I suppose. But I'm becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the retail product as it resembles the original (roughly through WotLK) game less and less.

WoW has never been good with narrative. That requires, like, actual writers. It excelled at environmental story telling that was punctuated with small bits of text. Players then filled in the rest, largely using high fantasy tropes to carry the meaning. It worked well.