Imagery creates a mood, a tone... a feeling... or it creates a picture in our minds... Like for example, if I say this, "My life is like a box, I don't like opening up," that'll create a picture in your mind. Imagery makes you visualize. Imagery does not only create a picture in your mind, but the "five senses can respond to what a poet writes."
No, because as you said it "does NOT contain fact-based details" therefore it is not reliable. If something doesn't contain fact-based details, it isn't reliable.
