Performing Art -> Audience.
As long as the audience is constantly engaged they will reliably react at the end of the performance. We see this in every performing art. Listen to the most somber concert. Watch the saddest play. If the audience is moved by the performers and the performance, they will applaud at the end.
There are a variety of mediums where the live audience is not important. Drum corps should never become one of them.
Does that mean "the audience" gets a vote? Absolutely not. But the judges (as they love to remind us) are part of the audience. If a show does not engage, there is no effect. IMO if a GE judge fails to be a well-informed, neutral proxy for the audience she/he has failed.
I personally think some who judge GE become too concerned with the "components" of effect and lose sight of the sheets intent Does this show "work"? Do the content and the performer combine to engage and retain the attention of the audience?