At a table, I generally am doing more formal routines like the chop cup, wild card, 3 shell game/fast and loose/3 card monte, repeat card under box to kennedy box, the frog prince, and matrix/barehanded assembly routines. I use the table because it allows for longer or "layout" routines. Plus it puts a definite boundary in play as the magician's space. People are less likely to touch things that are on my table as opposed to what is on their table. Not that I have too many grabbers, but on occasion it does happen.

If you judge the quality of the effect by the amount of equipment or the use of the table, maybe you should look at the quality of your smaller effects. ALL of your magic should be of the best quality possible.