People don't care about "the graphics", so much as "how well they can use the 3D effect". The DS was never selling anything to do with visuals as a selling point. The 3DS's primary selling point is visual. So, people pay closer attention to it. Also, better graphical capabilities = more desire to see those capabilities leveraged properly.
Kind of like how people care more about Wii U graphics than Wii graphics, yet still aren't as fussed about Wii U graphics as XB1 or PS4 graphics. And why people were quite annoyed at third parties putting out Wii games with graphics barely comparable to PS2, yet still said graphics weren't a major issue with regards to the system - because the issue wasn't "not good graphics", it was "not good enough care with game-making".







