Quote - Its treated as the holy grail because it takes more effort, more correction renders, more attention to detail, precise setting for bump spec. and displacement, and knowlede of realistic lighting setups. Point is it's harder to achieve when its done correctly.

I disagree.  I spent a long time arguing with someone about this recently.  He showed me a render of Barack Obama's face which came very close to photorealism, expressing admiration for its "realism."  I tried to explain to him that while this portrait no doubt took a lot of time to make, it wasn't art.  Making photorealistic renders of people's faces doesn't take any artistic insight or talent, just time and patience.  Not that there isn't value to this; after all, a bricklayer or stonemason who has spent a lifetime learning the trade can do wonderful work which delights and inspires -- but it isn't art.  There is a difference between an artist and an artisan.

I'm not trying to be some kind of effete art snob.  I recognize and appreciate the skill required to create a photorealistic render.  I just don't believe it to be (necessarily) art.