I wonder if when writing started to become the preferred method of transmitting information between humans, some people suggested that the methods of oral tradition were superior.
Having someone tell you something is vastly better than reading it.
Aside from the intonation and stresses in tone there's also a plethora of body language and cues to pick up on.
There are reading strategies which we can employ to engage the brain quite effectively.
Plus, writing is immediately replayable. Some would rather abuse this than rely on a more holistic reading strategy, but that doesn't discount the value of having a concrete, immediately-accessible, and yet persistent record of the communication.