I'd stick with it. I had tons of issues with B5 when I first started, but it was time well spent after it was all over. On the whole, the show deals with a lot of things that science fiction never addresses, and the process is extremely rewarding. Stick in there pal!
Probably CGI. They'd done enough station shots with it by then that their computer model would probably be in good enough shape, and it'd be much easier. Besides, I've already noticed several instances where CGI has been used on DS9 to get shots they normally wouldn't do, like the shuttlepod launching from the Defiant in "The Sound of Her Voice". I don't see why this would be any different.
Taking a look at the scene now that I've found it on youtube, it's definitely CGI. It also looks a little more "right" to me than the Babylon 5 credits shot. I think it has something to do with the way the light on the live action footage and the light on the CGI model clash in the B5 shot, but not in the DS9 shot. But I'm no expert on CGI, not even close.
Not only that, it was the only time in the entire show they used a CG model of DS9 and not a physical model.