Does It Matter If The Software Doesn't Sound Like the Hardware?

There are a lot of plugins – both effects and virtual instruments – that are basically software versions of some hardware original. Much is made of how some virtual reverb effect unit or synthesizer (see our recent post about software synthesizers here: https://www.homebrewaudio.com/of-synthesizers-and-oscillators/ ) sounding very much like their physical counterparts.  But what if the virtual/software versions sound nothing like the real thing, but still sound great?
Here is a post by Graham Cochrane that ponders that question:
http://therecordingrevolution.com/2012/10/05/who-cares-if-it-emulates-the-real-thing/