Great point. When I was teaching HS Music, I started my music appreciation classes by telling my students that if they had never heard an orchestra play live - they have NO IDEA what an oboe, or violin, or trumpet etc. sounds like.(well, "some" idea, maybe, but you get my point) I was a pretty good clarinet player in HS - even got a scholarship to Temple as a Music Major, but I never learned more than the night I spent in New Orleans at Pete Fountain's club; listening to him fill that room with a sound I have still not achieved. The way tone rides the air through a room, coupled with the actual resonance of the instrument is something that speakers, and models just can't replicate. That's why some instruments are so much harder than others to sample. The actual sampled tone may be incredible, but without the added resonance, and room acoustics - it's a whole different ball game. Yamaha, is getting pretty good at adding the the SA technology, and Korg has the DNC sounds, but even the real drums in the Ketron are missing that "in the room" element.
This is not a dig at technology - rather, it's a tip of my cap to the manufacturers for getting closer everyday. There is absolutely NOTHING like sitting in a beautiful auditorium, listening to a world class orchestra play live. I'm very fortunate to live in Philadelphia where we have the best of both. If you're ever out this way - go see the Philly Orch ate the Kimmel Center ... and prepare to change your perception of what you thought you knew.
Damn. Now, I want to go see a chamber ensemble!!!!