In addition to the possibilities you mention, on why people take your breath away more often in person than on television, it occurs to me that you might be reacting to smell, which television doesn't transmit.
Yeah, that's one. But in addition, it's often peoples' interactions with me that does something to me -- someone I might think looks nice in pix or a vid, but am not *oh!* over, I might react to quite differently if I see a sparkle in their eyes when they're looking at me, or even if they're not looking at me that way -- people just seem so much more alive and vibrant in person. :-) I'm a bit detached a fair bit of the time, but facetime interactions can overcome that. I've especially been surprised that way (surprised by attraction to folks) while dancing.
Tangenting again
Re: Tangenting again
Re: Tangenting again