Most people export the characters to a 3d application, most use Blender which is not an easy application to understand, that's true. Main reason is, that blender was designed to create 3d objects and materials so this always will be more complicated than just displaying objects.
There are a few tools to display 3d objects. Some systems e.g. use the .obj format, one of the possibilities to export the character. But then the information of materials is normally lost.
Doing "screen-shots" or grab the image? Since we are using an orthogonal display mode which does not look real because of no vanishing point, this has some limits. (look from head down to feet, they are huge
).
If someone likes your art or not depends mostly on the message the art has. Sometimes even on the mood of the viewer, And of course, what I like other may dislike. That's normal. For a comic there are other "rules" than for a picture, where you try to create realism. Depending on your art itself, effects can be helpful in the end (e.g. using photoshop or GIMP).
When you take a look in deviantart there are a lot of people with art which is not complicated, but the idea is quite fascinating. It is hard to judge and it is also hard to find out, if people like the art a person does or not. If someone does real painting or is a good photographer he/she has advantages also in 3d arts, Creativeness is sth. very personal and it changes a lot when we get older because of own experiences etc. What I did not like in former times, I may like today and sometimes it is the other way round ...