2-D vs 3-D | Style vs Realism

This is more of an observation.... I find it odd that 10 years ago technology was limited and yet games had more style. Animation styles were perfected and creativity was easier to find. Of course there were the rare combinations of amazing style and gameplay... (Castlevania SOTN comes to mind along with many early RPG's).

My point here is that 2-D art was most often an expression of style over reality. There was a brief time where Mortal Kombat and Pit Fighter were an amazing sight... but it was short lived.... and never stuck.

Now games are primarily in 3-D.... with 3-D it seems far more common for the goal to be realism instead of 3-D style... and when 3-D is done with a more stylish flair it seems to be cell-shaded designed to appear 2-D....

Why? I want to see more stylish 3-D that isn't cell-shaded in a game made for someone at least in their teens. There are examples now, but not too many come to mind....