I pretty much agree with you on this. One of my favourite authors stands out to me because she mostly writes explicit fiction - at least 75% of non-drabble stuff, I'm fairly certain, is R-rated or higher for sex - but the thing that draws me in is the way that everything is cast in the character's perceptions, no matter who she's writing about. There will be tiny little throw-away lines that you barely notice on the first glance but that do so much to put you inside the character's headspace.

But there are very few authors I can do this with - very few who attract me "despite" the porn. I think this may be a function of the relatively small number of good writers period, but yeah.

My point ran away and got lost. *chases it idly*