@yungerman:
Which tefillos do YOU think are more powerful:
Personal words from the heart, or prearranged words made in a centuries-old nusach?
Words said from the peace and calm of your home, or in public in shul?
Davening alone at your own pace, or davening with a minyan?
Davening at any moment that you feel inspired, or at 3 set times every day?
We believe that the Torah give us the path to connecting to Hashem. We don’t just follow what “feels more powerful.”
Why were we עולה לרגל three times a year if one is supposed to daven directly to Hashem from the corner of his home? Why do we go to shul? etc.
The Gemara says חייב אדם להקביל רבו ברגל – now that there is no Beis Hamikdash, one is obligated to visit his teacher. The mifarshim point out that this is not for the sake of Torah study because women are obligated to go as well. It is because the way to be closest to Hashem nowadays is to be near a tzaddik that one is connected to. This is not chassidus, it is pure halacha. (See Sukkah 27b and Pnei Yehoshua)
[I am obviously not advocating for going this year. I am discussing in general.]