Do most people prefer tight bass or non tight bass?

The first consideration must be : What is the SOURCE of the bass ?  Bass is not generic --- it is specific.  Is the source instrument bowed, plucked, blown or struck to produce the bass in question ?  The "leading edge" of the sound predicates the instrument that produces it.  A bowed doublebass has no "slam".  A tuba cannot sustain a note as long as a bowed doublebass can unless the tuba player uses a technique called "circular breathing".  A percussive or struck bass will decay rapidly whereas a blown or bowed bass can be sustained at the will of the player.  Once the source is determined, then a correct assessment of bass can be made.

Of course, with the advent of electronically produced bass, all bets are off since bass guitar can be sent directly into the recording console without the benefit of any acoustical environment to "tailor" the sound.  "FutureMan", the bass player with "Bela Fleck and The Flecktones" added octaves below what one would expect with his ground shaking "Drumitar" instrument that he invented.  So, in regards to electronic bass, your guess is as good as mine.

Put me down for "accurate bass" !

Good point, if it is depth charges then not as tight is ok. 

Quote - Bass intensity and detail are more accurate.

I want the bass to represent the fundamental tone of an instrument and voice.  Bass frequencies range from 20 to 250 Hz with sub-bass from 20 to 60 Hz generally.  For 60 to 250 Hz is should be detailed and represent the recorded sounds, hopefully correct and balanced with the upper frequency spectrum.  As to sub-bass, there’s detail and bloat.  Depends on the taste of the listener which is preferable.  I prefer detail without bloat, intense as the recording dictates (a mastering decision).  I guess I’m spoiled as I have tunable sub-bass with my Von Schweikert VR9 SE Mk2, easy to place speakers (just adjust for the upper frequencies) with very wide dispersion,, tight/fast and very deep bass (15" Rel powered sub built-in).  My other speaker also has deep and tight/punchy bass, the Legacy Signature III with 3 10" woofers.  I sold my Legacy Focus speakers as it had 3 12" woofers with very deep and sloppy/slow bass relatively speaking.

I like it Velvety and Nuanced with feeling.

I like the bass my Rythmik F12G produces for me with its paper cone, servo control, and multitude of adjustment possibilities - in particular its three damping adjustments (high/medium/low) that work for ALL music genres .  For the jazz/blues/classic rock music I most listen to, high damping is king.  It gives me the tightest, most articulate bass possible.  An incredibly fast, resolving subwoofer (no affiliation w/the brand, just a fan).

In a word (or words) I'm partial to tight bass, which seems to me to dovetail with the term "articulate".  I don't know if you can get one w/out the other.  Or......they're simply synonymous audiophile terms.  Can bass be "articulate"...but not "tight"?  

You decide.