Too true, some of those vintage cartoons from 20-50s were visually striking with the creativity. (Got a link to the John K interview?)
Yep, I don't doubt there's certain formats and formulas. Of course, the one good thing about most cartoons, although there are plenty of exceptions, is that they have a worthwhile lesson. But sometimes it's fine to bake cookies instead of protein bars or toss a salad. Whenever I watched cartoons, I wanted something unique; preferred learning, pushing through adversity, stopping evil, friendship, adventure, moral lessons.
Just my opinion, but early on I was rather shocked at the (often) mean-spiritedness of Bugs/looneytoons (Last of the Mohicans comes to mind) and cartoon violence of Tom & Jerry formats. I wasn't a fan of those, and not much for the silliness of the Hanna-Barbera (Peter Potamus was decent lol). One exception would be the creativity of a few Roadrunners.
Most modern kid-cartoons I've seen, if I had to sit with kids, really irks me, it's mostly high-pitched silly melodrama.
I don't really watch cartoons anymore unless I'm with friends who are doing it. More modern ones I've appreciated were Ren & Stimpy S1-2, Recess, Fillmore and Adventure Time. I won't walk out on a Simpsons or SouthPark, as it's hard to beat good satire.