Debussy - Piano or Orchestrated?

I first heard Debussy's "The Little Shepherd" on the piano. Later, I heard the orchestrated version, which I liked much better. Then I had this thought that maybe all of Debussy's work would sound better in orchestrated version.

Recently, I heard "Arabesque Number 1", in both piano version and orchestrated version. I felt that the piano version sounded slightly better.

Why? I thought of several reasons.

1) "The Little Shepherd" is lyrical. There are long notes. Piano is a percussion instrument. A hammer strikes a string, it generates a sound. But it does not sustain very long. Violin and flute both generate sustained sound. So, the orchestrated version sounds better on those long notes.

2) When I listen to "The Little Shepherd", I visualize a shepherd boy wearing a fur hat, sitting on the rocky slope of the Caucasus Mountains, playing a short flute. The orchestrated version with wind instrument playing part of the melody just match better with my imagination.

3) "Arabesque Number 1" is a rather fluid piece. When I first heard it on the piano, I felt as if someone poured a plate of marble balls on the stone floor, and the marble balls fall, or even bounce, on the floor. When I listen to the orchestrated version, I did not feel this sensation.