@pocketkitchen I'll be the first to agree that both Linn & Naim are responsible for the most appalling & misguided publicity drives, but that still doesn't change what aspects of music reproduction are important. Personally, I hate the PRaT terminology, timing is a good enough description for me.
Our hi-fis are nowhere near as good as we think & all will suffer from one kind of distortion or other; as you say some will enhance our musical enjoyment and others will detract from it. I just try to select components that work well together & sound good to my ears. Certainly, from my point of view, the timing aspect is important & other aspects that others my rank higher, are less important to me personally.