Why the finish level decides how it looks
Basement lighting is almost always recessed cans, which throw light down the wall at a raking angle and expose every imperfection in the taping. A finish that looks fine in a hallway with a table lamp looks rough in a basement.
We finish for the lighting the room is actually getting, which means the taping is coordinated with basement lighting and electrical in Louisville rather than done blind. Where the light will be harsh, a skim over the whole surface evens out the difference between paper face and joint compound. That step is the one most often left out of a cheap bid.