I could post screenshots to prove it, but since we are getting back on topic...
I think features are more important, to an extent, as long as the graphics are playable. For instance, when I tried the GW2 beta, I enjoyed the game, but the graphics were just so freaking terrible that I could not tolerate looking at them. So I did not enjoy myself and stopped playing. It would have been fun if the graphics weren't so painful on my eyes.
I have not noticed any of the instances that the OP mentioned about it just not looking right, other than the bugs. I do wish they had delayed the launch to include more required features though, I think we would be looking at rising subs instead of falling if they had released it in say April or May with all of 1.3s features.