this gameplay over graphics arguement is overused that it has come to be meaningless. whenever someone states that they like "gameplay over graphics", it appears as an attempt to simply propel that person's status to the level of "true gamer". the comment is pretentious and exaggerated; as by liking "gameplay over graphics" you are now considered "hardcore" and an "old-skool gamer".
not saying this was your intention Bill, just that this is how the arguement is interpreted.
the fact is, what we consider as "gameplay" is so crucial and found in every successful game that stating you "like gameplay" is simply obvious and trite. every "good" game has worked it formulaically such that the only true difficulty from the game is simply from the game itself. this absence of frustration adds to the overall "fun" we experience when we play, and isn't "fun" the main reason why we play games in the first place? thus it only seems logical that one would find "fun" in a game considered to have good "gameplay".
we are a visual species; 80% of what we perceive is generate through what we "see". therefore a product must be in some way asthetically pleasing to be marketable. understandably, the visual may play a lesser value in the eyes of one individual relative to another. however, stating no "graphics don't matter" and "graphics have no importance" doesn't elevate you above the masses, it just comes off as being condescending.
at any rate, i hope i didn't offend anyone and i hope i made some reasonable sense. sorry if i don't, i feel hungover and am going back to bed.