It's all personal preference... SH4 has it quirks, so does SH3. Modders try to work around them. Sometimes, they succeed, sometimes they don't. The story of our lives...
Personally, I consider SH4 a far better engine. There's just more possible with it, with greater quality. Doesn't mean I curse and swear at it for it's annoyances. I often do... :rotfl:
Anyway, I can understand why people stick to a specific game. I played one game for more than 6 years (it also had a sequel that I never really looked at) before I started working with SH4.
PS: if you don't like the water or consider the overall look a cartoon, you can mod the shaders to suit your self. But this is in my opinion another reason why people shy away from SH4. The engine technologically improved alot and allows newer 3D concepts, and because of that it is also a more difficult engine in some respects. Until you actually try (and learn) that is... but hey...
Regards,
skwas