Why Bother to Recover from Bad Piano Lessons?

There is no single or simple answer to the question.  It is an especially peculiar question to pose when so many conservatory graduates (well-meaning perhaps naive) pass on without any qualms the woefully unexamined achievement of having satisfied the requirements for graduation.

My guess is that Beethoven would not have passed the test, as Debussy did not.

As long as the standard is set by Beethoven and not by the piano faculty there is reason to want to recover.  Go straight to the heart of the matter without the distraction of technique.  Sound, pure and simple, is the reason to want to recover.

Anyone can connect with those sounds, in isolation, perhaps-- i.e., not playing entire sonatas--but nonetheless compelling.

Let the likes of Ludwig set your standard.