&gt;<i>But it would help.</i><p>Not necessarily -- it actually could hurt.<p>A lot of masters are too self absorbed in their own work and own preferences to have a wider appreciation of the field -- and especially to appreciate a valid style that&#x27;s nonetheless against their own aesthetics. That&#x27;s what a critic is supposedly above.<p>Plus, for them there are always potential issues of rivalry and personal interests at play (since they compete for the same gigs with people they criticize).