You actually see this when accomplished professionals from other elsewhere in the entertainment world (novelists, movie makers, sports stars, etc) decide they're going to make a game. Doesn't matter that they may have been successful in other areas of life. Their game will not be a big hit. That's how tough the market is.
There are just too many games out there these days for most people to take notice of anything that isn't high end and ultra-polished. I've been making games for decades myself and agree with what you said. Back in 1998 it was enough just to *complete* a decent game. You would get players. Nowadays, even highly original games get neglected.