Many of those who were disenfranchised with D3 weren't necessarily disputing the fact that the game played competently enough, but that it was a huge departure from being a sequel to DII.

My grandmother introduced me to the game in 2002ish, and when D3 came out she didn't particularly enjoy the game because it didn't feel like the game she loved to play a decade prior. She said it was too short, too easy, and I feel that those things that made the game that way ("the streamlining") ended up making the game not as fun for her (me too I guess).

SC2's current reputation difficult to understand. The game is competently designed and has stellar gameplay, but it's floundering as an e-sport has detrimentally impacted public opinion. The story however is sub par, and I feel that has had further impact on the game's perceived quality. It is clear that both those games were huge commercial successes. They just weren't able to endure in terms of public opinion as their predecessors.

I don't know why I ranted. I guess What you wrote just made me wish to express my opinion as well.