Yeah, watch those new Hen Zemi OVAs instead.
ASOAIF has denser books than WOT, you have no grounds to talk...
Sure though, yeah, ASOAIF is a great series. The world is very well designed, and it feels more authentically medieval than a lot of fantasy does, which really counts for something for me. But is the series as good, or as fun to read, as WOT? In my opinion, no. I like WOT more. And no, I won't admit the braid pulling is excessive. Sure, she does it often, but the idea is that it's her nervous habit, and I think as such it works well enough...