[WS:] To be honest, I've seen both. I lived in a country ruled by an unelected executive committee and one ruled by the so-called elected 'representatives' . I see no significant difference between the two regarding responsiveness to "pressures from below" - both respond only if sufficiently threatened. I see a difference in the quality of political discourse - it is far more poisonous and idiotic in countries ruled by elected "representatives." Elections are nothing but a celebrity contest and as such it trends toward the lowest common denominator.
There are also differences in the standards of living, but these are due to the level of economic development, production, etc, rather than the type of government.
Wojtek