Using television special effects is cheating, in my mind. Plenty of illusionists do some pretty amazing things without special effects. You’ve heard the disclaimer they make at the beginning of the show: “no special effects or camera tricks were used.” Blaine doesn't make this disclaimer, and I don't think Chris Angel does either. But there have been enough magic shows that do, that you take it for granted that they are NOT using special effects.
If you use TV special effects, anyone can do anything. You can jump to the moon and walk around without a space suit. Now doing the tricks that they do without special effects, that takes skill.