I think all those little things are a part of the big picture, whether folks always indulge and appreciate them all the time or not. I am of the vein that if one is creating a simulation basketball game, then reality can also serve as a worthy base. Will I watch the Toronto Raptor dance during each time-out? No. But does it feel as though something is missing when he's not there? It can.
Regarding the half-time shows, I'm trying to remember how I operated with NFL 2K5, but I believe I watched a lot of those, alongside the Sportscenter and Draft Previews. It most certainly added to the immersion and overall experience. I believe it's more a matter of how people manage their time as opposed to whether they have enough of it. For instance, perhaps instead of playing 82 games per season in my franchise, I only play 20-30 and spend other available game minutes connecting to my season through half-time reports, post-game details, and whatever else may come down the pipe.
All that said, I completely respect your decision to skip all of that stuff. In recent years, I have as well, as I found the half-time report to be woefully uninteresting.