Yes, hard to deny the nurturing influence! My classical music interests were seeded in the San Francisco Bay Area, a US early-music hotspot. My wife and I used to go to performances of Bach, Handel, etc. by the American Bach Soloists, who adhered to OVPP in their performances of Bach masses and passion oratorios. We heard them perform the B Minor Mass in an intimate church setting (where the recording listed above was made), where OVPP (and a small period-instrument orchestra) made sense physically and sounded wonderful (clarity of textures, etc.). I still enjoy full choral performances, and listen to those frequently, but I confess that versions by Richter, Klemperer, Bernstein, von Karajan, etc. have not (yet) found places in my library!