From my testing/playing it, it's very similar to many other MMOs that already exist. Move, interact, repeat.
And, some, most, many or all of those MMOs have a cash shop and/or micro transactions, just like New World.
However, some, most, many, or all of those other MMOs have more content, more features that I like, a better community, or other mechanics that I would prefer.
So, (and this is the decision I've had with every MMO since the first cash shop was introduced) I have to decide if this cash shop is now and will be worse than any other, and make my decision based on that.
It's not that the graphics are better or worse, or the gameplay is better or worse. That's all been the same since 1995, from my perspective.
You move your character in a ~persistent 3D environment. Ok, that's the interface. Beyond that, the mechanics can be good, bad, many or few.
All I want is a level playing field to go with those mechanics. No customer should be able to open their wallet and gain any in-game advantage. Using RL money to cheat? Nope, not a fan.
New World doesn't have that level playing field, for me. And given history, it's unlikely it will get more level over time.
Objectively, if Daybreak would remove krono from the
Mischief-style TLP EQ1 servers, I would go back to playing on those for many many years.
That's how little graphics and direct player conflict matter to me, when comparing a 20 year old game to New World.