I have had this question constantly popping into my thoughts when trying to decide on the style, and how to write my novel. Firstly I like the novel that transports you to the exact place and time period the author is trying to express. Where you get to feel, smell, and almost sense you are there. But then you get the advice regarding creative writing that you should "Show don't tell" this is the golden rule to some. Yet I like to tell, I like to describe in detail certain events, or how the people are dressed. I also like to be told the structure of the novel, I know that it is also good to let your reader have their own view on certain aspects of the story. Like a character, you don't have to go into grate depths of depravity to show the bad guy, but you can let the reader build up in their own mind of how deprived the bad guy is. Also Introduction's, I have read many books that have an introduction but yet I have been give the advice that if you need an Introduction then there is something wrong with the novel. Yet if you have an introduction you are setting the novel up, by the very word "Introduction" you are letting the reader get a feel for the novel, without it sounding like "Once upon a time" also you can use a prologue for your novel. This is were I find the advice confusing and contradictory so could somebody please help me.
I have to agree with you on the 'show, don't tell' rule. It confuses me sometimes. However, I like to think - but I could be wrong - that it means you don't outwardly express a strong emotion or character trait. For example, you wouldn't simply call someone jealous, envious or paranoid when you're describing them in detail - instead you would try and convey these characteristics through descriptions of how they act. Like, with restless eyes and such. It's very hard to do when dialogue is involved though, because sometimes it is easier just to write 'angrily' or something similar.
Senses are a good way of showing and not telling. Scents immediately register with an image in the reader's mind. I think the real problem with the whole thing is authors have a tendency to forget how smart their readers are. You don't think they'll get what you're trying to say, so you dumb it down a bit. When really you should give them the benefit of the doubt to pick up on hints.