@BrotherEarth said:

How can anyone ever claim that live music should be considered from a post show couch tour perspective? Or that he couch tour perspective is somehow more valid than being there in person.

Hows the light show? Do you flick the switch in tune to the music?
What about the energy of the crowd? Do they feed off the band and is it returned?

For me, the only reason to listen to a show is to get psyched up for the show you are about to attend.

Or to put it in a better perspective, Alpharetta night two was a hell of a lot better than any tape could ever be.

It's not just the energy and lights, its the sound. Part of their music isn't notes and rhythms and improvisation. All of these things fall mercy to concert sound and performance dynamics. Streams and recordings (sbd and aud) dilute this part of their music, which in turn dilutes the other parts. You aren't hearing all of it from your couch.