Exactly... I read "masters of doom" and Carmack didn't strike me as the product guy who cares about people needs. He was more like a coding machine.
Ultima Underword was technologically superior to Wolfenstein 3D.
System Shock was technologically superior to Doom and a much better game for my taste. I also think it has aged better.
Doom, Wolf 3D and Quake were less sophisticated, but kicked ass. They captured the spirit of the times and people loved it.
They're still pretty good games too, 30 years later.