>Maybe there's a brief moment of "I'm impressed with how much work you put into this" but for that to happen, you kind of have to see the work being done.

Or be knowledgeable enough to estimate the effort and skill required. Ironically, things I took for granted when I was young have impressed me more and more over the years. Probably because I've either tried to do them myself or learned about their backgrounds.

So I'm not surprised artists and at enthusiasts would value realism more than most people. Just like how speed metal is probably more popular among guitarists. The technique becomes a source of value rather than just an implementation detail.