in integrated or power amp circuits, the input tube is generally considered more important than the driver tubes in front of the power tubes ’being driven’
reason being that the input tube is the actual gain stage, expanding the low level signal, and is first in receiving the incoming signal (thus having more stringent requirements in terms of noise and transconductance/mu) than the driver stage after it, which simply works to stabilize the impedance and signal delivered into the power tubes for them to do their work
this may help you understand better ... https://www.primaluna-usa.com/tube-rolling