There are many examples of modern games which combine good quality graphics with good gameplay:
1. DCS A10c
2. ArmA2 : Operation Arrowhead
3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat
4. Company of Heroes
5. GTA IV
6. Left4Dead
7. Battlefield Bad Company 2
Not to mention many older games great before their time like Half Life, System Shock, Deus Ex, Falcon4, Homeworld2.
PC gamers want the best of both worlds, Silent Hunter is no exception and the way I see it is SH5 has the best future. There are good and bad points about SH5 in terms of graphics and playability but as the weeks go by little by little SH5 is evolving.
Personally I do not play SH5 atm because I am not happy with it yet so I can relate to the OP, but I do honestly believe the day is coming soon (probably with the next release of MO) that this will change. The mod ingredients are there and the coming together will be a new milestone in SH5.