Thanks for the comments everyone, a lot of good points raised.
disappointed, I definitely see your point but to play Devil's advocate I think there's a few mitigating factors as to why so many games hew to a few set genres. I think if you look at the output of other mediums, the lion's share of it falls into a similar, if you'll pardon the term, escapist wheelhouse. Not everyone aims for a deep, groundbreaking experience, and there's no reason we shouldn't celebrate stuff that's just fun, be it The Avengers or Harry Potter or whatever. The problem with games isn't so much the developers making those types of games, but the fact that the alternative voice isn't there to provide a balance. To use a cludgy metaphor, we have our Sam Raimis, but we lack our Ingmar Bergmans. Which, I think you correctly assessed, is largely related to market and audience. I'd say the best way to counter that trend is to spread your support between the lighter fare the quality indie work like Lone Survivor and Dear Esther that tries for a different tone. Personally I tend towards a 3 or 4 to 1 ratio on my Bergman.
And Evil/Drunk, it's interesting you mention being slightly squeamish about a game's gore, because having recently picked up Max Payne 3 there was a definitely a "whoa" moment the first time I saw the slow-mo exist wounds and arterial sprays. Granted, by the end of the first level that feeling had pretty much worn of, and by later in the game when I had guys hopping around spurting blood through multiple holes Daffy Duck style it occasionally became comical, but it's been a while since a game's violence has actually given me pause. It's one of those hindsight is 20/20 scenarios that this article is coming out now, as by some accounts it seems like Spec Ops: The Line might very well handle the violence issue beyond just adding fidelity to it, which is something I'm curious to see.