I like a good mono track, it's right up front. I don't need all the surrounds telling me there are birds in the neighbourhood.
I think movies lost a lot when they went to stereo and five-track sound.
When we read stories of heroes, we identify with them. We take the journey with them. We see how the obstacles almost overcome them. We see how they grow as human beings or gain qualities or show great qualities of strength and courage and with them, we grow in some small way.