Indeed, text and graphics are different styles and there are pro's and con's to either one. Similar to how some people enjoy ps1 style games over "modern graphics". One of the major pro's for text based games is accessibility.

It's in a way comparable to the difference between a novel and a movie or a novel and a comic/manga.

Really before the term MMO was coined these type of games where called "graphical MUDs"

Also Runescape started as "DeviousMUD".

Neverwinter, Runescape, Tibia, Ultima online, Everquest and more all formed from MUD lineage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Graphical_MUDs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_massively_multiplay...