I didn't know the longer you play a game makes your opinion more credible. Besides, if your gamertag is the samer as your B3D username, then you don't come close to how much I've played Reach.
Anywho, take a look at this screenshot from Halo 4 (no spoilers, environment already revealed)
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6420/108430623.4/0_89982_201ab6ca_orig.jpg and compare that to the opening scene from Winter Contingency (first Reach level). The difference really isn't as big as most people make it out to be.
Having said that, Halo 4 does look better than Reach, but people act as if Reach is an early gen title compared to 4. Give Reach some credit, it's still visually, technically and artistically great game.