With the animated films vs best films, I don't really have a preference either way. I think having a category for the animated films is a great way to acknowledge them, but you get those rare situations like Up or Toy Story 3 when an animated film gets so good reviews and holds up so well that it should be considered for best film as well. I think due to the fact that they are two different mediums it might be really hard to compare the two. Sure, you could come to a conclusion which film you like more, but they're made so differently that comparing them is a tough challenge.
I don't watch the Pixar films myself, mainly because I'm not within the target audience or have any big interest for them. They might be great films, and something I would be open to go and see with a child or younger sibling, so maybe I will start going in the future when I have a kid myself. I know they make the films so that they appeal to all ages, but it's not something I would go out of my way to see.