Half Life might be a good example but there completely different games. GTA has no loading times for a MASSIVE city with interiors to almost every building, it has a load of vehicles to drive each with individual handling qualities, some of the best AI we've seen, should I say more?
Point is, Rockstar are trying to make a game which is going to have great gameplay and look fantastic. Now coming up from there past titles they didn't really have to worry about graphics as the gameplay was so good. But with next-gen consoles people thrive on good graphics, a game which doesn't look good in there eyes is a rubbish game and they won't buy it. Rockstar have taken a massive jump graphics wise and the GTA franchise has never looked so good, but Rockstar wan't to focus on gameplay as always.
What I'm saying is that while there may be a few buildings without 3D interiors, it's nothing to hate the game about. When your in an intense cop'n'robbers chase on multiplayer with friends, you won't take notice will you? Also I don't really see the point in making an interior for a pointless and small building when you'll probaly never use it for anything.