The thing about that era of women's wrestling was that there was more depth to the characters. Yes Lita was a sex symbol, but she also got accross with teenage girls market by dressing like them and showing that she could do what the boys could do, sometimes just as well. Even if I don't rate her as a performer, the character itself was a huge part in getting more females interested in wrestling. Trish worked very hard to be a good wrestler, which she did, but when she turned heel in 04 she became one of the most entertaining things in wrestling at the time IMO.
The likes of Ivory, Molly Holly, Victoria and Mickie James were not over in the same way, but they all had talent and could put on good matches. To me that is a pretty solid division.
I understand that there was and is better women's wrestling in other promotions, considering WWF/E had never promoted the divsion that seriouslly (at least not since the 80s) then it was a big step for them.