I agree. I can look past most everything if gameplay can be put into position to give a realistic game and it doesn't have to be out of the box. Commentary in very short time has factored very little into my enjoyment of a sports game and I typically turn it off after briefly sampling it. After all, I want to feel like I'm in the game, and that means I wouldn't be hearing the commentators, just the ambient sounds.
Decent models are a larger factor in this day and age. I can't believe a company with the fiscal power of a Hollywood movie company couldn't get that down. They just haven't for years in really any of their sports titles.
And fighting in a hockey game, just doesn't intrigue me one bit (and I'm not one of those "take fighting out of hockey forever" guys). But it seems more of a diversion than an essential feature. I'd rather the time be focused on the gameplay / AI.
I got the PS3 demo and will give it a go later on All-Star - hardcore, since that seems to be the recommendation.