if you heard it first recorded, then live is sometimes a let down. if you heard it live first, then sometimes recorded is a letdown. although in general if a performance (live) is good it can add to the excitement/feel and no recording can do that, so.......

plus live you get more sensory inputs other than audio only. so in general i agree with you, but not always. too many circumstances that can kill a live performance to say it always is better, imho.

j.h.