Interesting theories but they did't stand up to technical scrutiny then and they still do not today. I suspect the main reason that analog works well is that you can actually hear below a noise floor (well known that you can hear up to 15 db below a noise floor). It is the higher noise floor (hiss) that allows you to hear or focus on certain nuances. It certainly changes the presentation adding a slightly greater emphasis to background details - instead of disappearing below audibility as they do on CD the noise floor remains modulated by the nuances allowing our ears to pick it up. Analog tape is similar. Think of it like a background for a painting or photo - what is in the background can certainly affect what you see even if the subject of the photo or painting is unchanged.