conducting arguments

this is from wikipedia:

Furtwängler's art of conducting is considered as the synthesis and the peak of the so-called "Germanic school of conducting".[152][153] This "school" was initiated by Richard Wagner. Unlike Mendelssohn's conducting style, which was "characterized by quick, even tempos and imbued with what many people regarded as model logic and precision [...], Wagner's way was broad, hyper-romantic and embraced the idea of tempo modulation".[154] Wagner considered an interpretation as a re-creation and put more emphasis on the phrase than on the measure.[155] The fact that the tempo was changing was not something new; Beethoven himself interpreted his own music with a lot of freedom. Beethoven wrote: "my tempi are valid only for the first bars, as feeling and expression must have their own tempo", and "why do they annoy me by asking for my tempi? Either they are good musicians and ought to know how to play my music, or they are bad musicians and in that case my
indications would be of no avail".[156] Beethoven's disciples, such as Anton Schindler, testified that the composer varied the tempo when he conducted his works

i think it somewhat strengthens my convictions about the need for artistic liscense in the pursuit of best expressing music. tempo is not meant as a straight-jacket, but as a framework. i always find it interesting how artists/musicians choose to express themselves - to add their unique slant. If they didn't, wouldn't it rather negate the role of human musicians? we could just use midi electronic audio devices instead of cellists and guitarists and the like.