How important is it for you to attain a holographic image?

I agree that holographic imaging is very impressive but is it the defining element of an accurate representation of live music.
Or, is it a parlor trick?
 

Tone is first but then as you move up the food chain a “holographic” soundstage is a must.  If it sounds flat or one dimensional then there is definitely a short coming in your system.  Live music is not like a row of paper cutouts.  There is depth, interaction, perspective, placement, movement and change.  That is music. 

I would agree that dynamics, as it should be and not exaggerated, is a king. But king alone is not nearly enough.

I love the spacial ques, without it, it takes me back to the transistor radio days of the 60's

I sorta regard it, anymore these days, as something of a parlor trick, myself. Don't get me wrong, I love imaging - but mainly only when it is playing on the same page as the sound staging. Hate it when the 2 are disconnected from each other.

I've heard (and have owned a couple) systems of lesser quality where it was relatively easy to get a "dimensional" sound from stage rear, and had pretty good imaging as well (at least across the front of the stage), but as things progressed for me over the years, the challenge has been to get the soundfield to fully fill in all the areas in between the front of the stage and the back and do so believably. 

But, I'd say I'm more of a 'line-of-sight' kind of guy...that to me is more like what I hear when I'm out. I listen to about everything at home. Maybe for some small ensembles, it could be an advantage. With most material, I might even find it distracting...I think it can be overdone.