I can assure you I've watched every game the All Blacks have played in the last decade, and that little chip and kick hardly shows a real flair, especially considering it's still being made a big deal of. The truth being that his attacking play has been so boring and methodical, that when people mention him showing any flare at all as in a career of nearly 100 test caps, that's the only example they immediately go back to. It was more poor positioning by the All Blacks than outstanding by Wilkinson. Wilkinson is not especially creative. Most tries in which England showed any creative flare from 2002-2003 was either a Jason Robinson solo effort, or set up by Dawson and Greenwood (two outstanding players) unleashing Cohen, JSD and Lewsey. Your point about "Had he had four years to develop he'd have been as good as Carter", well if I had wheels I'd be a wagon. Point is he didn't develop. His careers was not helped by injuries and he was unfortunate in that regard, but it still doesn't change my opinion of him.
Not sure what your point about a RWC Final was? Carter would have lead NZ to the final had he not been injured. As it was, our 4th choice 1st 5/8th was called on in the final and we still won. No one doubts we would not have won by a less tight margin had Carter been on the feild. I believe Carter still has as many RWC winners medals as Wilkinson, and has only lost a single RWC match (2007 QF) which he was substituted and the All Blacks were winning at that point (in 3 World Cup campaigns). Wilkinson has lost 3 times at a RWC, so I guess it's a bit unfair to claim Wilkinson's record at RWC is so much better than Carter's.