Imyerhukleberry,
As to the art portion of bonsai, I feel the answer to your question is yes.
I'd like to quote a passage from Professor Amy Liang's book 'The Living Art of Bonsai' on choosing the pot.
" .. Bonsai is a form of landscaping that uses trees and rocks as the subject. The selection of the pot is important because it allows the viewer to imagine the potted tree growing in its natural environment. The pot is one of the three essential elements that constitute a bonsai. If a fine tree is planted in an unsuitable pot it will look unpleasing and lack stability and harmony, or the pot may become the dominant element and detract from the overall beauty of the design. If the choice of the pot and the means of positioning the tree are appropriate, tree and pot will complement each other. Thus, the depth of the bonsai in the pot, the planting position, and the proportion of the tree to the size, color, shape, height, and width of the pot are closely related to the message the artist wants to convey."
