How interesting to have this old thread pop up again and re-read what I (and others) said almost 9 years ago.

I still agree with what I said in 1998 that both are advantageous, both provide more resources to get more out of and into the music. I play several instruments by ear now (none well) and have also been known to sight-read a bit on the piano. I think of the music notation --especially classical-- as a way of understanding and interpreting the composer's creation, whereas playing by ear is more subjective, limited only by one's own abilities and perhaps taste.