I've been upgraded during earlier trips more then in the past couple of years. With resorts almost full to capacity lately, I think it's rarer to get upgrades.
So I always book a view category I can live with. The only resorts that views are more important IMO are the deluxe resorts. Mods and values don't have balconies to enjoy the view so much. We did get upgraded from garden view to water view at POR. While nice, I wouldn't pay for it. Only time I enjoyed the view was coming or going out of the room, or the few times I stood at the window.