You're not wrong on the first part - this is indeed true. As for the second, I'm fairly sure Lionel Messi has never saved a penalty, yet is considered a good player. Özil isn't in the side to win tackles, he's there to create chances - he is phenomenally good at this (even in his "dreadful" world cup he created more than anyone in the group stages). Perphaps in the "fair few of you who don't understand the game, of course" did't think that such a player is a luxury rather than a vitally important asset, it would be worth taking you seriously :shrug:
*I may have been a bit annoyed by Bayern fans this morning