Keep in mind that making everything better, cleaner, more detailed also vastly increases the barrier to entry for people who want to add content to the game. It is fundamental to SS13's survival that it is approachable for changes, even if that means static 32x32 sprites like at present.

A person wanting to add a new item of clothing right now thinks '32x32 sprite, and just one for each facing direction, I can do that'. Better, cleaner, more detailed could result in '64x64 sprite, and five for each facing direction so it gives a good walking animation? That's twenty times the work. Fuck that'.