Quote: Camera manufacturers want to kid the amateur into believing that it actually matters what camera/lens you use, because it effects that mythic attribute called 'quality.'
And it sure does. Used to be that the camera body was only something to connect the lens to the film, these days that is no longer true, the physical characteristics of the sensor and the software used (in the camera as well out outside it) have a major effect. But it's still true that a good technical quality is invariably produced by a good lens.
Quote: But in reality a good pic is a good pic, no matter how much noise/lens flare/distortion there is.
You're quite right, of course - but there's a minimum to the technical quality that any of us are prepared to tolerate.