Finals (e.g., 1989 or 1990), it would have made MJ's portfolio more (not less) impressive, even though the optics of going 6-2 in the Finals wouldn't look as good as going 6-0 in the Finals.
My point is LeBron carrying teams into the Finals is part of what has made him so great (weak EC competition notwithstanding), even if he wasn't able to win the title some of those years.