while collecting material is important,if there were nobody singing the material,there would be nothing to collect,therefore the performer is more important than the collector.
entertainment is an essential ingredient of music,to entertain, to engage an audience, to communicate ones feelings be they sad or happy,does not devalue the music.
what has good singing,got to do with [particuarly] singing arias,are you saying that opera singers are the only good singers.
many years ago[at the time I was anestablished professional] Brian Peters asked my advice about going professional,I recognised his talent and advised him to do it,Ihave always believed that while the academics have apart to play their part is not as important as that of the performer,without the performers there would be no collectors academics etc,http://www.dickmiles.com