A good hard massage is essential for me for several reasons.
One is that I want to feel good physically afterwards.
Another is that a weak massage feels like a waste of time. Neither stimulating sexually nor physically.
I also like to partly maintain the fantasy that I am going for a regular massage and part 2 is a surprise somehow. I know that doesn't quite make sense since I research where I go and who I see usually.
Part 1 is the main thing, part 2 is a bonus.