I don't like AI at all. It's trained off stolen work, likenesses, etc., the syntax for written AI is so off-putting, and it removes one of the most important elements for any artistic endeavor (in my opinion): skill-gating. You can usually tell if someone is decent at their craft by looking at some obvious technical aspects of their work. I have no way of knowing that with AI-driven content, so I will just ignore it off-hand. I don't want to contribute to or boost anyone who relies on it for writing, imagery (except backgrounds, I don't mind that as much since few people are making their own backgrounds anyway), animation, etc. You can use it for scripting/coding and proof it yourself. I consider that busywork and not core to artistic endeavors. Maybe someday I'll see something AI-driven that I consider ethical and technically sound, but it hasn't happened yet.
As far as modeling programs go, I like Daz the most for sure, HS 2 probably vote for second. I like some VaM work, and others are a total miss, people really seem to vary in their ability to create compelling imagery and animations with it. You'd think the animations would be great relatively across the board since it's physics-based, but IDK anything technical about using VaM really. VaM 2 looks really promising, hope we get more solid titles with it soon. I actually like TK17, at least a couple titles that use it (stuff by Beggar of Net, and Second Happiness by VNorth is good as well). I like the art in 1 Sims model game, Moonward Farm. Besides that they're all pretty lacking in some way shape or form I'd agree. Hand drawn can be at the top of my list or the bottom, it really depends. I like Dark Cookie, Scarlett Ann, Glassfish, Sparrow, and a few others for 2D artists in game content, and a lot more for non-game content (InCase is my favorite 2D artist by far). I don't know why nobody uses SFM models for game content, I think it could do well in a VN/Sandbox game.
I'm never gonna forget this game, it hit most of my buttons besides non-con stuff, and it felt like it could have gotten to some good non-con content had it gone on long enough. It's just gonna be forever the high-potential game that wasn't alongside stuff like Gates Motel and But I'm the Bad Guy?. The art, animation, writing, pacing, were all well-done. Now all we have is the knock-off that went Patreon friendly after 2 updates.