When Atlanta critic Pierre Ruhe wrote last week that Atlanta Symphony music director Robert Spano seemed to have dropped off the list of up-and-coming conductors likely to land a very high-profile directorship, it stirred up plenty of opinions among his readers. Some called the piece “character assassination,” while others wondered why a conductor dedicating himself fully to a great orchestra in Atlanta instead of chasing an overrated gig in New York would not be celebrated for his dedication.