You can speak for yourself. Many of us love the aesthetic aspect of WoW. Why do you even play WoW if you only care about gameplay and not at all for the aesthetics? We joined this game because we fell in love with its environment, its music, its cartoony style, its races. When you first began this game what did you see first? The AH? Did you even know about or care about the AH at the start of your WoW experience? The transmog that didn’t appear until Cata? The garrison that didn’t appear until WOD (and looks very boring btw). Did you never lough or participate at those jokes in trade? I sure did, and some times had a blast with it.
The environment in WoW is what gives soul to this game. And capitals are part of the environment. Both new players and veterans are interested in cities of their favorite races.