I think the losses in the two previous trips to the WS also make fans more attuned to the idea that when you get a chance to get there, don't scrimp. As we've discussed on the forum many times, it's doubtful how much you can improve your odds of winning a WS once in the playoffs no matter what you do, but it's also doubtful the majority of fans, being less statistically immersed, think that way.
My own preference to build a WS team would be HR power and pitching depth, but that's the best way to build any playoff team.