Great review, Lee.
It exactly reflects my feelings about 2k1. Graphically, the game lacks. I still giggle when I see some of the avatars in the selection screen, can't get used to them. Some ppl say that it would be just a new art style with a more vivid presentation, but I think they just suck (the avatars, not the ppl...).
I've been playing it since it came out on AES, and I still come back to it nearly every day. I feel distracted by the artwork, but dragged into by the gameplay, and I love fighting with KoF's new and nicely dressed ladies!
You're right, Playmore still has some way to go, but if they manage to combine the pre-2k artwork with 2k1's gameplay in KoF2k2, we will get an awesome game I guess.