I think the spirit of what I was trying to get at comes down to the idea that RT is important for some and not for others. I’ve seen and played some games that look bad with raytracing, though I’d say on the whole it’s been positive.

Like other techniques, it comes down to intentional design choices. Where to place light sources, how strong they should be, what kind of surface radiance looks good aesthetically versus how well it functions to light the scene are all factors to consider.

I think until it becomes a requirement, there’s space for everyone’s tastes.