I'm not too interested in the graphics i'm just getting excited that the matchmaking may work over steam. It's horrifically difficult to even play a lan game of old aoe2, it's been dead since MS gaming zone stopped hosting.
I'm actually glad microsoft are getting more money from AOE2, it's a good idea as everyone loves it. I don't know why they haven't done it sooner.
With steam workshop support it wont be long before the community made expansion gets put in too.