Patterns, forms, kata. What do you think is more important?

I think you maybe confusing the appearance of power with actual power.

Someone who loses balance in a fight is dead meat and it does not matter how powerful they appear. If you are off balanced, you cannot defend because you are committed to one objective - recovering your balance.

While "clean and nice" movements may not appear to have power, it is the basis on which power is generated. It's the difference between a smooth running car engine idling and one that is loud, but rough and sputters. At high revs, the smoothing running engine is going to be more efficient. While the rough and sputtering engine will probably stall.

Yes, you are support to punch or strike through the point of contact, but NOT at the cost of balance which means you are overreaching. Striking through the target means your punch or kick is not slowing/decelerating before connecting.

Forms, kata, patterns is the worksheet from which you practice solving the problems of balancing action/reaction, stability, power, and efficiency in combat. The idea is to be able to move naturally without losing balance - at all speeds. To be free of tension in mind and body so you can react quickly and instantly with power.

you need both power and a controlled form when you practice kata. (If you don't have controlled form in a right, a skilled opponent will use it against you.)

The movements of your kata should be done with full power blocking, kicking, and striking.

Your techniques in the kata are the heart of your style. you should practice them the same way you do during drills and other training exercises.

-- I think to answer your question, you should imagine your opponent being right next to you, and not 2 - 3 feet away. At this range, your punches and kicks are focused on the center of the person's body, not the surface of the skin or above.

Without question form is most important. Because that is where power comes from. You can not generate great power with poor form, they are both a part of the other. Develop your form, and your power increases accordingly. Poor form equals poor power, so get the form right, and you need not even worry about power.

Power comes with correct form. They go hand in hand.

What is more important for whom? Surely the answer depends on what the student is trying to achieve.

Power.

Without it, you're just dancing.

COMBAT with Kata