I think that we can all agree that this is better than this, although a lot of that is just plain experience, imagination, and presentation.
However, Raiders of the Hawaiian Box was filmed with a webcam (using onion skinning and the play last 5 frames buttons to help with animation) while De Mortem was filmed on a canon powershot that couldn't remote capture. And, while the animation in both is pretty rough, it's pretty obvious that one shines over the other.
If you've been saving up for Dragonframe for a long time, then I'd recommend you keep saving up for it. Although, while I'm not too interested in Lego MOC's generally, I do believe that presentation (sets, lighting, story) almost always trumps animation (and software/hardware).
I still love to watch older brickfilms, before HD was widespread, and the camera quality only rarely gets on my nerves. (And even then, this only happens when it outright makes everything harder to understand/see). However, if you're wanting to step up your game, go ahead and improve your equipment & software.
That's kinda the Brickfilmer's greatest dilemma, isn't it? - Whether to buy camera's and software, or pick-a-brick and sets?