For me, it's like 80-90% music and 10-20% lyrics. In general, I agree with ? that lyrics can't save a bad song or trash a good one, but they can certainly enhance or diminish the effect of a song. For example, Scarred is a very good song, and would be one regardless of lyrics, but you have to agree that the overall effect of the song would be diminished if James was singing about his pet cat, Tibbles. And vice versa for any song with bad lyrics. Good, fitting lyrics can enhance a good song, and bad lyrics can diminish it. But the lyrics do not make the song good or bad. Even Scarred, Tibbles edition, would be a very good song. Just not as good as the real one.
But yes, I love lyrics when they do shine, and I think James LaBrie is especially good at times at emphasizing good lyrics. And early on, Dream Theater wrote some amazing lyrics. I think Images and Words and Awake are both pretty well flawless in the lyrical department. So, yes, the quality declined later (and now appears to be on the rise again), but don't neglect some of the lyrical greatness DT has achieved in the past.