On Wood I think he is. Wood hasn't been good for a long time, but was still first choice until very recently despite some strong candidates in his position. I'm certain he'll go to the World Cup and I'm afraid to say I think there's a very good chance he'll start the crucial games at 6.
And would have probably remained first choice but for injury and might still be first choice in Lancaster's mind for all we know; he's still probably Lancaster's second choice captain. The idea that he's not rated, well, that's reaching pretty hard if you ask me. Haskell's picked up a fair few caps too (ahead of Clark who's a clear Lancaster favourite) - young players will be doing some to displace him.
I would like to be wrong. But j'nuh hasn't convinced me I am.
As for the other arguments -
Lancaster has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take more or less the same team to 2 World Cups and benefit from their experience. He also has to provide the 6N results the RFU wants to keep his job long enough to do so. The next World Cup will be seen as a continuation of this development cycle as much as anything, if not more.
Haskell, Croft, Robshaw, Wood and Clark will be 33-30 by the next World Cup, which providing their athleticism doesn't drop off too sharply, puts them at the peak of their powers. A 27 year old Kvesic is only reaching his peak. Assuming he'll overtake them is a pretty big assumption, and assuming he'll overtake them in Lancaster's eyes looks even bigger to me. Lancaster clearly likes what he has, even if we don't agree, and what he has is Kvesic in a fairly marginal role to say the least.
Yes, there are going to be new faces. But I think they're going to be the guys Lancaster has promoted as quickly as sanity allows (Itoje and Burgess) than the guys who have been making a Premiership case for a good two seasons while being mostly ignored (Kvesic and Ewers) as they seem to be the guys he rates the base athleticism and personality of highest. I think the biggest improvement he wants from Kvesic is an inch of growth and an extra 4 kgs of muscle and that's never happening.
If Burgess get in the final squad it will be because of who he is and the press not because he is the best in either position . The very real prospect of Slade and Ewers both missing out because of Burgess is worrying to say the least ....
No, it will be because Lancaster rates Burgess higher than Ewers and Slade because he really likes what Burgess brings.
