Speaking on the idea of "It is art, it has to be challenging.."
The main issue for me is that I play a game to have fun.
If I go see a movie, or an art show, or a museum, it's not necessarily about the fun factor, but rather that I spent the time well.
Therefore, I don't mind facing certain things in movies, art shows, museums (concepts challenging the status-quo). But when it comes to gaming, I want to have fun. Nobody ever said viewing a Picasso was fun, but no one has ever really said "a total waste of time" and meant it. So have we come to the point where we can have games that aren't fun, that are essentially art?
You know?