I think you can have both good graphics and responsive and “clean” gameplay, just not by taking the path “cinematic” adventure games took.
Changing the subject back to Broussard’s original post, I think Broken Age is an example of an adventure game made by one of the classic LucasArts designers that tried to be very forward looking in its content, and (in Part 1 at least) in its design ethos. That game doesn’t feel beholden to the past other than it being a graphic adventure game by Tim Schafer.