Don't get me wrong. I know what you mean. The pre release footage shows a bridge tiled with more natural stones, rather than the processed, cleaner cut stone tiles in the release footage.
However, the original footage still looks objectively worse. Those "natural" stone formations don't really look natural to me at all. Those looks like random stone textures.
Also, in what universe are sharper, more high resolution textures inferior to a pixelated version, even when they use different styles? In my opinion this comes down to a stylistic choice.
The release footage also shows a little more environmental detail with the stone slab that I've marked. Not to mention the fire, which clearly looks better in the final build.
I know I'm cherry picking here but you brought up the bridge so I thought I'd chime in. At one point there was a spider web in the pre release footage and that web was missing in the release version so there are definitely instances where the old footage had more details.
In the end, I don't really care either way. I didn't even know about this "controversy" before this thread. I've only played the PS4 remaster of DS2 and that looked OK to me.
You do see the extra shadows and lit areas on the texture though, right? The choice of stone texture might have been inferior, but it's clear as day going from the bridge alone, that the graphics were better.
I don't know why you're cherry-picking. when all it takes is to look at the pit down below and notice the superior lighting and effects work.
Edit: Oh wait, you actually prefer the fire too. Well...ok