Why should we think of "what microphones heard " as a standard

I live in the Boston area and I have attended many concerts. In trashy night clubs and at the symphony hall.
Back when I was obsessively trying to remember what I heard to compare it from records. (while going home and my ears still ringing). I finally remembered an article in TAS where the mics were hung from the ceiling for a classical recording and thinking to myself, What am I doing? I can never afford those tickets besides, they wouldn't let me hang from the ceiling anyway.  hmmmm