I find that photography is as much a science as it is an art. Both in the study of human perception and in totally understanding the abilities of the equipment. Once you understand the limits of the equipment you use, you can make sure you stay within them. Noise is just one of those limits. As is the AA filter, lens selection, AF quality, metering consistency and so on.
Great photographs depend more on the photographers understanding and appreciation on the quality of light than just quantifying or understanding noise, even if we could do better without it, or even do something with it.WB
