I believe strongly that your character and you should have a link, a bond, bred of trials born through real world sweat and white knuckled trials. To that end I believe the craft of DM-ing requires subtle attention to the individual needs of all the players.
High adventure, expansive plot, handouts, drawings, roleplaying, and charged atmosphere combined with mature storytelling are required for base-line fun for Dungeons and Dragons. A true DM gives of him or herself for the enjoyment of the player. At the end of the day and happy, exhausted and chatty player is a job well done and a pleasure in itself.