On the reverb thing:
Natural reverb, like hall sounds, is fine with me. In fact, I enjoy it. It’s supposed to be there. Its when artificial reverb is added by the recording/mastering engineer for effect is where the problems occur. As an example, the original Patricia Barbara "Cafe Blue" album is saturated with artificial digital reverb. To me, it’s unlistenable. The 180-gram reissue is much better in this respect. I can take a little of it, but there is a limit.
Jafreeman is correct. With the addition of PPT products and the resulting lowering of the electronic hash/grain/noise, it allows one to more clearly hear into the recording to discern the natural sounds of the recording space.
With judicious use of Total Contact and multiple Omega E Mats, when playing the best recordings, some from master tapes, one can envision a transportation right into the recording venue.
As an example, I have a two-CD set of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd & 3rd piano concertos performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra burned right off of the master tape. These recordings were never released commercially. They’re recordings of a Rachmaninoff competition with an amateur pianist (the winner of the contest) playing. Amazing performance and sound. The hall is very evident as are the individual audience members. I just sit back, hit "play," and get transported into the theater, trying hard not to catch the flu from the "coughers," "sniffers" and "hackers" sitting around me. :-)
Frank