IT DEPENDS ON THE OCCASION!!

The technical musicianship side would be more important at instrument-playing judging contests, and concerts where everyone is sitting in chairs doing nothing more than listening to a performance.

If you are playing a venue to bring listening and dancing enjoyment to the crowd, I would use whatever is at my disposal to add variety, change flavor and allow me to stretch out into a less comfortable playing style that I may not regularly practice or build upon. If the crowd is happy, you are a success, the good news spreads by word of mouth and the establishment will want you back too.

But, if you find that the percentage of time you need to be 'faking it' is increasing, I'd recommend to start building up the chops.

Ed