It's funny how we're all contradicting each other; it makes me wonder if the shows sometimes run at 100%, and if the cuts are applied consistently.
Just a few days ago, I watched Illuminations, and the show ran at almost 100%. Lasers, perimeters, everything was great. The finale was a bit smaller, but it wasn't horrible. I also recently saw Wishes at the MK and noticed several missing fireworks. Wishes looked much worse to me, with an underwhelming "Wish for Love" sequence (no sparkling waterfalls on the chimes leading up to Beauty and the Beast and only two during the Cinderella song). The Prince Ali song had fewer big background shells than usual, too.
WDW Monorail, I know you're not lying for the heck of it, so I believe you; but my experience was very different.