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There was a very informative piece written in S&T about this very issue, ....well....over a decade ago...I think it was something like "ten telescope myths" probably worth google-ing.
The short answer is aperture rules.
But there are a lot of caveats.
It is a good deal harder...and more costly... to make an exquisite 14" scope compared to say a 6". Apart from the optical figure, mechanical and thermal properties become a good deal more problematic.
And how do you mount a 14-20" scope really well?? Dob? Equatorial? The latter means big money.
That said, a large aperture will always collect more flux and show more detail...the Pro's use metre class optics not because 6 APO are wanting, it's simply because the physics says aperture will put you in different league.
As to whether the observer recognises this is another matter...as the aesthetics, rather than real information, of an image can often give the illusion of a "better" image.
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