every performance setting has its plus & minuses... and the challenges of mic-ing vs. purely acoustic.

while hardly an expert, I do have plenty of experience dealing with the sound aspect of performances. poor sound will really detract from any performance and most "modern" buildings are built with lousy acoustics.

the nicest sound I've found ( we'll leave out Lincoln Center)has been in the old wooden churches where, not surprisingly, the goal was to have everyone there hear the sermon... lol. At the Mystic Sea Music Festival the two nicest places to sing or play are the old Meeting House and the Fishtown Chapel. Sweet!

if the sound is good, then it goes to mood & personal preference how you enjoy the performance. and how comfortable the performer(s) are during their set. I enjoy interaction with performers - less so when the "dialog" is rote. and performances that get the audience involved and caught up in the spirit are the best for my money.