Well it was obviously easier to overlook the graphics a) in 1997 when no one knew any better and any 3D graphics (no matter how poor they were) were still impressive and b) when most of the audience were still children.

And no, you don't not notice them, I tried and they never got any less laughable for me. Maybe some people that have never played the game could look past it when they played it in this day and age, but I still say that the people who claim the graphics aren't that bad or aren't noticeable are simply staring at it through nostalgia goggles.