Fun is not always a requirement, hyper competitive games like Dota and Counter-Strike can be very painful if you're losing, but you can still learn and develop as a player, which can be much more satisfying than a pure "fun" game that's pretty to look at.

I'm willing to sacrifice across the spectrum depending on the game. Xenogears and Morrowind are pretty abysmal on the gameplay meter, but I was still able to appreciate and enjoy the powerful storytelling and world-building techniques they pioneered. But my favorite games are the ones that reach a little further and can balance all those things at the same time, like Dragon Quest or Metal Gear Solid.